§ 22. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Regular British officers will be in the permanent cadre of the Gurkha Brigade on 1st June, 1969; and what are his plans for recruitment to the brigade.
§ Mr. Boyden163. On officer recruiting to the brigade, I have nothing to add to my letter to the hon. Member of 31st March. We shall continue to recruit sufficient Gurkha soldiers to maintain our target strengths.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that by phasing out the permanent cadre and having only temporary officers going to the Gurkha Brigade, it will lower the level of recruitment, and is it not disastrous? When we are 10,000 short in the Army and 2,000 short in the infantry brigades, surely it is madness to cut the Gurkha Brigade?
§ Mr. BoydenI do not accept either of those two points. It is a reflection on the short service officers to make that remark. Several of the corps in the Gurkhas are run by seconded or short service officers.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Biggs-Davison.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonrose—
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Biggs-Davison—[HON. MEMBERS: "Point of order."] Order. The point of order was not raised.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWill the Government show some Commonwealth solidarity and consider stationing some British Gurkhas with the Australians and New Zealanders in Malaysia after 1971, and will the Government do nothing to discourage the recruitment of these splendid soldiers?
§ Mr. BoydenThere is a great deal more Commonwealth solidarity now than there was in the days when right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite were in office.
§ Mr. RipponIs the hon. Gentleman aware that we regard his answer as very unsatisfactory and that a Conservative Government will seek to review the position as soon as we have the opportunity and try to put right the damage that present Government policy has done?
§ Mr. DribergSince the Gurkhas seem actually to enjoy serving in H.M. Forces—
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesSo do many other people.
§ Mr. Driberg—and since they make very good soldiers, anyway, why confine them to the Gurkha Brigade? Why not bring some of them to the United Kingdom to replace the reluctant teenage Servicemen whom my hon. Friend will not release?
§ Mr. BoydenThat would raise many difficult problems, and I doubt very much whether the Gurkhas as a whole would like it.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the still unsatisfactory nature of all those various replies, I beg to give notice that I will seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.
§ 39. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Defence at what strength he now plans to maintain the Gurkha Brigade after 1971.
§ Mr. BoydenAs announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January, 1968, the Brigade of Gurkhas is being reduced to a strength of 6,000 men by the end of 1971. Its future after that date will depend on conditions at that time.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the strong feelings in the House and in the country as expressed a few minutes ago? Will he have particular regard to the pleas of his hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) and reconsider this deplorable decision to reduce the brigade?
§ Mr. BoydenThe hon. Gentleman exaggerates what is said to be the feeling in the House.
§ Sir G. NabarroWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are great differences in our recruiting position which have developed since 16th January, 1968, which is 16 months ago, and that we are now 15,000 men short? Following the question of the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg), will he not undertake to open negotiations in Nepal to see whether we could not recruit an additional 6,000 Gurkhas, who are the best possible auxiliaries to the British Regular Army?
§ Mr. BoydenNo, Sir. The hon. Gentleman should read what his right hon. Friend said about this situation in 1963.
§ Dr. GrayHas my hon. Friend had conversations with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development on the effect of this reduction on Nepal's external balance of payments in view of the remissions which have always been sent by Gurkhas to their relatives and dependants in Nepal?
§ Mr. BoydenMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration has been to Nepal three times and this matter has been very much under consideration in his discussions with the Government there.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory and frivolous nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.