§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the financial saving in Essex from the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps, the Auxiliary Fire Service and the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, Category III; and in what manner home defence will be kept on a care and maintenance basis.
§ Mr. Ennals:Expenditure in these three services in Essex has been at the rate of about£205,000 a year, and most of this will eventually be saved. The decision to reduce home defence to a "care and maintenance" basis means that in general existing operational assets will be preserved and that training will be maintained at a sufficient level to preserve a core of knowledge and expertise.