§ 14. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the implementation of his plans to expand the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. HeseltineI refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement that I made on 26 March.
§ Mr. CanavanAs some of the new units are to be recruited in areas of high unemployment, is this merely a part-time job creation scheme? If it is really necessary for the defence of the nation, is the enemy external or internal? Will the Secretary of State give us the assurance which he failed to give a couple of weeks ago on the Floor of the House to the effect that under no circumstances will the Territorial Army be used to deal with the potential civil unrest which the Government are provoking by their policies of confrontation?
§ Mr. HeseltineThe hon. Gentleman is as aware as anyone else that the Government have no intention of changing any of the existing procedures in this matter.