§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that further 77W requests for military personnel to undertake civil tasks, in the light of current industrial unrest and withdrawals of labour, can be satisfied without disrupting either the morale or the capability of Her Majesty's Forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. GilbertAny requests for Service assistance in connection with industrial disputes are considered by Ministers in the light of the individual circumstances. Extensive use of Servicemen on such tasks, however, is bound to have some effect on Defence activities and this is, of course, one of the factors taken into account by the Government. Whenever Servicemen are used on these tasks, they are employed only on the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the nation; and the necessity for this is understood by the Services.