§ 1. Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many German civilians are employed by the British Army of the Rhine; and what is the estimated cost for the current year.
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)At 1st April, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, some 27,800 whole time and 1,640 part-time locally engaged civilians were 422 employed by the British Army of the Rhine. Of these some 21,800 whole time and 1,130 part-time were German nationals. The estimated cost of all locally engaged civilians to be employed by the British Army of the Rhine in the current financial year is £33,800,000 including £28,800,000 in respect of German nationals.
§ Mr. RoebuckDoes my right hon. Friend not agree that that is a very large number and, when added to the number of dependants, gives Rhine Army an exceptionally long tail? Will he institute an inquiry to see what can be done to reduce the number? Will he bear in mind the possibility of employing wives of British Servicemen in some of these jobs to reduce the costs across the exchanges?
§ Mr. HealeyWives of British Servicemen are employed where that is suitable. The proportion of civilians to military in Germany is only half as high as the proportion of civilians to military in the British Army as a whole. Secondly, in Germany 80 per cent. of our forces are in one Corps and forward units. It makes sense to use highly professionally trained soldiers for military duties and leave the less military duties as far as possible to civilians.
§ Mr. GoodhewWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind in any notice that he takes of his hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) that the numbers have already been cut to such an extent that in Germany soldiers are employed on menial tasks?
§ Mr. HealeyIf he compares the menial tasks carried out by soldiers six or seven years ago with those carried out today, the hon. Member will find that there has been an enormous reduction in Germany.