§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the manpower strength and the number of posts of the Royal Observer Corps in England and Wales, in Scotland and in Northern Ireland in each of the past five 273W years; and what was the expenditure in each year.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe personnel establishment of the Royal Observer
Area etc. 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 England and Wales (a) R.O.C. Personnel Establishment … 24,200 24,200 19,750 19,750 19,750 (b) Strength … … 13,560 13,750 13,970 14,050 14,190 (c) Observation Posts manned … … 1,064 1,137 1,162 1,179 1,179 Scotland (a) R.O.C. Personnel Establishment … 6,600 6,600 5,250 5,250 5,250 (b) Strength … … 2,470 2,550 2,600 2,570 2,690 (c) Observation Posts manned … … 296 315 317 319 319 Northern Ireland (a) R.O.C. Personnel Establishment … 900 900 920 920 920 (b) Strength … … 710 820 890 850 830 (c) Observation Posts manned … … 58 58 58 58 58 Expenditure on the R.O.C. from Defence Votes was as follows:
£ million 1963–64 1.025 1964–65 1.125 1965–66 1.050 1966–67 1.175 1967–68 1.200 The bulk of these costs was recovered from the Home Office, which also met in full the capital costs for accommodation and specialist equipment.