HC Deb 12 March 1968 vol 760 cc1304-6

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £4,230,000, be granted to Her Majesty out of the Consolidated Fund, to defray the expense of the Regular Army Reserves (including other ranks to a number not exceeding 50,000) and the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (to a number not exceeding 101,000 all ranks) (including within these Reserves the Special Army Volunteer Reserve to a number not exceeding 8,700 all ranks) and of the Cadet Forces, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1969.

9.59 p.m.

Sir T. Beamish

I have only a moment or so, which is very disappointing, but I want to say something about this Vote. We have already debated the future of the Territorial Army at considerable length and we were very disappointed with the Government's decision. This is not the time to go over the arguments again, but I had hoped for an opportunity for the hon. Gentleman to tell us how the discussions between the Secretary of State and the Territorial Army Council are going, what sort of structure the right hon. Gentleman has in mind for the Territorials, so that they can be recreated if necessary, and what sort of financial ceiling is to be applied.

The Government's position in relation to civil defence and the Territorials is com- pletely inconsistent with N.A.T.O. thinking, as the hon. Gentleman knows. This point was not brought out in the last debate. It was only last December that the N.A.T.O. Ministers approved a report on civil emergency planning which stressed the vital importance for such planning. They said that they noted the progress achieved and the tasks remaining to be accomplished. We can only conclude, therefore, that the Government are the only Government in N.A.T.O. not in step on this extremely important subject.

It being Ten o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.

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