§ 60. Mr. Kelleyasked the Secretary of State for War how many infantry units in the British Army, which are stationed in the United Kingdom, are below establishment strength; what extra duties devolve upon personnel because of manpower shortages; and if he will issue a general instruction that military duties should be related to the number of bodies which are available.
§ Mr. ProfumoWhen brigades are not fully recruited much of the shortage has to fall on battalions in the United Kingdom which do not form part of the Strategic Reserve and have no immediate operational rôle. Two-thirds of the infantry battalions in this country are 50 or more men below establishment and all save two are in this category. The strength of units is taken into account in allotting duties to them.
§ Mr. Kelleyasked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many infantry battalions, based in the United Kingdom, are capable of carrying out the full duties, so far as personnel is concerned, which 62W have been assigned to them by their command;
(2) how many infantry battalions, stationed in the United Kingdom, are below strength so far as their military commitments are concerned.
§ Mr. ProfumoAll of the infantry battalions in this country are capable of carrying out the duties placed on them.