HC Deb 20 March 1968 vol 761 cc397-8
17. Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish his next review of the rôle of the Armed Forces.

Mr. Healey

I expect to publish a further White Paper on defence policy in July.

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

Will this report include final plans for the future of Army units and regiments?

Mr. Healey

It will be a report on progress. We will give the best view we are able to give at that time on the size and shape of the forces after our redeployment from the stations outside Europe is complete.

Mr. Frank Allaun

If, as the Minister sees, mutual force reductions take place by N.A.T.O. and the Warsaw Pact, would we still require the size of manpower planned for 1971?

Mr. Healey

It would very much depend on the nature of any agreed balanced force reductions.

Mr. Powell

Now that the right hon. Gentleman understands the importance of this to the House, will he give an assurance that he will endeavour to make the time of the publication of this review as early as possible in July?

Mr. Healey

Yes. I am conscious of the need to present our views on this as fast as we can, not only for the convenience of the House but also for the morale and well-being of the forces.

20. Mr. Ramsden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the future strength and rôle now being planned for the British Army in the 1970s.

Mr. Healey

I would refer the right hon. Member to paragraph 3 of Chapter I of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1968 (Cmnd. 3540).

Mr. Ramsden

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that what the House and the Services find difficult to understand is how, if he cannot make an announcement in broad terms about the future general size of the Army, he has been in a position to decide where the cuts should fall and how big they should be?

Mr. Healey

The right hon. Gentleman will recall that we debated these matters for six days recently. We gave an announcement in broad terms of the nature required by the right hon. Gentleman. However, I am not prepared to go beyond that until I am sure that I am on firm ground, and that will take some months further work.