§ 2. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will initiate a study into discrimination in living conditions, catering arrangements, leisure facilities and conditions generally in the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air 188 Force as between commissioned officers and other ranks; if he will take steps to remove this discrimination; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersI am reluctant to initiate any study unless I can see its purpose clearly. In this case I am not sure that I do.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes my hon. Friend agree that many large commercial undertakings are reducing discrimination among their staff so as to increase business efficiency? Does he accept that the same management criteria should operate in the modern, technically-dominated Armed Forces?
§ Mr. RodgersI entirely accept that the same managerial criteria should apply, but I prefer to think of certain differences which inevitably arise from obligations and responsibilities rather than "discrimination", which is the word used by my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. ViggersWill the Government consider the extension to the other two Services of the excellent house-purchase scheme operated by the Royal Navy?
§ Mr. RodgersThat is a different question.