Scotland (Deployment of Forces) (Hansard, 12 June 1968)

§ 42. Mr. James Davidson
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the fact that Scotland is nearly one-third of the area of the United Kingdom and that Scotland provided over 10 per cent. of the recruits for the Armed Forces, he will now take steps to increase the 7 per cent. of the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom based on Scottish territory.

§ Mr. Reynolds
No, Sir, because the deployment of the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom must be governed primarily by defence needs and the fact that the)' use facilities which it would be uneconomic to reprovide.

§ Mr. Davidson
Is the Minister aware that if Scotland's unsurpassed record of recruitment to the Services, particularly the technical branches, is to be maintained, it would be only right and proper to deploy a fairer proportion of those forces on Scottish territory?

§ Mr. Reynolds
I am aware of Scotland's record of recruitment to the Armed Forces and that of many other parts of the country. But we have to face the fact that facilities exist in all parts of the country, and it would be completely uneconomic to give up premises capable of further use simply to transfer units and facilities to Scotland. If the party opposite have their way, many places in Scotland will be closed down.

§ Mr. Hector Hughes
Will the Minister take steps to countermand the order to disband the Gordon Highlanders now stationed in Aberdeen?

§ Mr. Reynolds
No.

§ Mr. Davidson
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Hector Hughes
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot take two points of order at once. Mr. James Davidson, to raise a point of order.

§ Mr. Davidson
On a point of order. I should like to inform the Secretary of State for Defence that the impression he has given of the policy—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order. Mr. Hector Hughes, to raise a point of order.

§ Mr. Hector Hughes
My point of order was that I asked a perfectly audible question of the Minister about the Gordon Highlanders stationed in Aberdeen, concerning which there is an order to disband, and the Minister made no attempt to answer it.

§ Mr. Speaker
That is not a point of order for the Chair either.