HC Deb 21 October 1975 vol 898 cc219-20
3. Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men will be saved as a result of the proposed reorganisation of the Army in Germany without the traditional brigade structure; and what trials it is intended to hold of the proposed new small divisional concept.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Robert C. Brown)

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) on 15th April on the question of manpower savings. On the re-organisation of the command structure, extensive trials are already under way and will continue over the next year or so to prove this new concept.

Mr. Trotter

Will the Minister explain why this fundamental and vital reorganisation affecting commands, supplies, tactics and training—the major reform of the Army since before the First World War—has been made a commitment of the Ministry before any trials were carried out? Surely it would have made sense to have had the trials before committing ourselves to restructuring completely the whole of the Army?

Mr. Brown

We are satisfied that the overall concept is sound. The main purpose of the trials is to get the details right and to assess the operational procedures, communications, and so on.

Mr. Onslow

Does the Under-Secretary accept that the country has a right to be satisfied as well? Will he give an undertaking that the Defence White Paper due to be published in February will contain a full evaluation of this experiment, an analysis of the logistical costs which will be involved in redeployment of units in BAOR, and also an assessment of the units that are to be disbanded in these cuts, units whose identities have not been announced since June? I understand that they are to include the Guards Independent Parachute Squadron and at least two batteries of Royal Artillery?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman should know that I announced in the Army debate that no cap badge units would be directly affected. The reorganisation is envisaged to be effective from 1st April 1979, but, of course, evaluation of the trials will take place long before that date. I am not prepared to give any undertaking about next year's White Paper.