§ 18. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give an assurance that joining the European Economic Community will not involve reintroducing military conscription in Great Britain.
§ Lord BalnielI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch) yesterday.—[Vol. 815, c. 211.]
§ Mr. AllaunAs only Luxembourg does not have conscription, is not considerable pressure likely to be put on Britain by the other Governments to have it, particularly if we are part of a European defence force?
§ Lord BalnielIrrespective of pressure on Her Majesty's Government, the decision on defence policy rests with the Government in this country. The Treaty of Rome does not refer to military matters, and, therefore, joining the European Economic Community has no relevance to the question of the reintroduction of military conscription.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan GilesFar from Britain having to change to conscription in the event of her joining the European Economic Community, is it not a fact that our regular system of recruiting is the envy of our allies on the Continent?
§ Lord BalnielThere are few countries which can claim such high standards of professional military competence as those shown by the Services of this country.
§ Mr. AllasonWill my hon. Friend reject the pleas for conscription coming from the Opposition and ensure that he pays the rate for the job?
§ Lord BalnielOne of the mercies of Parliamentary life is that I am not answerable for the views of the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun). The question of Service pay is kept constantly under review. My hon. Friend will know that we have appointed an independent review body to keep Service pay constantly under review.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsSurely my hon. Friend's position on the matter of conscription is very well known, and, contrary to what the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Allason) is suggesting, my hon. Friend was pleading against conscription, not for it.