Scottish Regiments

HC Deb 12 June 1968 vol 766 cc217-9

13. Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Scottish regiments will be affected by the reorganisation of Army units.

14 and 15. Mr. Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give an assurance that the Royal Scots Greys will not be amalgamated with another regiment or disbanded during the next three years;

(2) if he will give an assurance that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders will not be amalgamated with another regiment or disbanded during the next three years.

19 and 20. Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for the future of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what proposals Her Majesty's Government have for the future of the Royal Scots Greys; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. James Boyden)

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) on 1st May, 1968.— [Vol. 763, c. 1105–6.]

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Why cannot the hon. Gentleman give an assurance to the House that no Scottish regiments will be affected? Will he please tell his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence that he would be well advised to keep his hands off Scotland in this matter?

Mr. Boyden

The Statement on Defence, which will be fully debated in this House, will be ready in about a month. It will contain all the necessary information about Scottish and other regiments.

Mr. Monro

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the statement he has made is almost identical with that made by his right hon. Friend 13 months ago, but that his right hon. Friend a few weeks later scrapped the Cameronians? Is he aware that Scottish hon. Members have no confidence at all in the Government's attitude towards Scottish regiments? [HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense."]

Mr. Boyden

My hon. Friends said "Nonsense" to the second part of that supplementary question, and that is right. There is a list of what happened last year in the White Paper of last July.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is great foreboding in Scotland about what the contents of the White Paper will be, and that any threat to abolish those great regiments would be strongly resisted by the country?

Mr. Boyden

The traditions of the British regiments, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English, are taken into consideration in these decisions. Naturally it grieves the Ministry of Defence and popular opinion to take the unpopular steps which have to be taken, but they follow logically from the defence cuts.

Mr. Dalyell

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are a great number of Scots who want this decision taken on one criterion, and one criterion only—whether there is any credible operational requirement for these regiments?

Mr. Boyden

Yes, Sir, and that is done. It is also done on a basis of fairness as between the different areas of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Ramsden

Is the Minister aware that the Government have already announced changes bringing about a reduction of eight battalions in the infantry of the line? If they are bent on further reductions their reasons will require the most searching examination by us on this side of the House. If the reasons are seen to exist and they choose a method of Buggins's turn, it will almost certainly turn out wrong.

Mr. Boyden

The right hon. Gentleman will have every opportunity of debating this in a month's time.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is is not a fact that young people in Scotland are becoming far too intelligent to join the Army because they do not know its purpose in the nuclear age?

Mr. Boyden

Scottish regiments are quite well recruited.

Mr. W. H. K. Baker

Will the Minister give a categorical assurance that there will be no cuts in the Gordon Highlanders and that they will not be disbanded, because they have the highest recruiting and re-engagement record in Scotland and are well worthy of retention?

Mr. Boyden

I shall not add to what I have already said.

Mr. Monro

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.