§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the winter equipment at present 51W supplied to personnel serving with the British Army of the Rhine; whether it is comparable to other clothing and equipment supplied to other forces in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisI am generally satisfied with the standard of winter clothing and personal equipment supplied to personnel serving with the British Army of the Rhine, but of course improved garments are continually being developed, e.g. trials are to be carried out next year on a newly designed combat boot and a new heavy wool jersey is shortly to be introduced.
The present British Army clothing compares favourably with that of other N.A.T.O. countries and through our membership of the N.A.T.O. Working Party on combat clothing and equipment we are in touch with what other N.A.T.O. Armies are wearing and with any new development that they have in hand.