Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 12 June,Official Report, column 142, when he expects the work currently in progress to assess the possibility of altering the readiness of British military forces will be completed; and what expenditure reductions he estimates will be possible as a result of this work.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonSHAPE's review of the criteria govering the readiness and availability of alliance forces is not expected to be concluded for some time yet. Some interim measures, the details of which are classified, have already been implemented. It is too early to estimate what expenditure reductions may be possible as a result of this work.