HC Deb 09 May 1978 vol 949 cc459-60W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the calls by the President of the United States and the Secretary-General of NATO to increase military defence, he will explain Her Majesty's Government's decision to mothball more than 10 per cent. of the Chieftain tank strength of the British Army of the Rhine.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

War reserve tanks are kept in a preservation system, known as DIRCLAD, for obvious reasons. As the hon. Member is aware it is not the practice to discuss the size of this reserve.