§ 48 and 49. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Minister of Defence (1) in what way the estimated 27 divisions in the German Democratic Republic vary from an equivalent number of British divisions; and whether the number of men and machines is larger or smaller in the German divisions than those of British divisions;
(2) why he is not prepared to state on what basis he estimates that the German Democratic Republic has 27 line divisions.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI should like to make it clear that although I have stated previously that I estimate that 27 divisions are in East Germany, these are not all German divisions. In fact, 20 are Soviet divisions. I am not prepared to discuss the basis for my estimates or to go into details of these divisions in Germany because I do not consider that it is in the public interest to do so.