HC Deb 25 June 1969 vol 785 c1492
23. Mr. Ramsden

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the overall strength, including officers, other ranks, young soldiers/airmen and women of each of the services separately, on 1st April, 1964, and 1st April, 1969, respectively.

Mr. Boyden

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

first hand. What we are doing is working together with our N.A.T.O. colleagues to ensure that we achieve an improvement of the situation. The problem is to balance active air defence with passive protection and dispersal and to get the optimum mix.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Would not my hon. Friend agree that these R.A.F. airfields would be far more secure in Britain than in West Germany?

Mr. Morris

I do not agree about that. The R.A.F. in Germany fulfils a very important part of our rôle in protecting the defences of the United Kingdom and the remainder of the territory which is part of N.A.T.O.