§ 119. Mr. Denis Howellasked the Secretary of State for War why the 4th Independent Parachute Brigade Group Field Ambulance, T.A., is being moved from Birmingham; how many volunteers will no longer be able to utilise the training they have received; how many years of voluntary service will be lost by this decision; and what has been the cost of training the men of this unit.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe hon. Member was informed by letter on the 20th February of the reasons for this decision.
The Parachute Engineer Squadron in Birmingham can accept as many volunteers as are suitable and willing to transfer. In addition, special arrangements have been made for up to ten noncommissioned officers and men to remain members of the Royal Army Medical Corps (T.A.) for about a year. I therefore expect the net loss of volunteers to be small. The average annual cost of a member of a unit of this sort is about £300. This figure does not however include the cost of providing aircraft for parachute training, which I regret cannot be readily identified.