HC Deb 23 June 1969 vol 785 cc196-7W
Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular officers and non-commissioned officers are posted to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, the Staff College, Camberley, and to the Officer Training Course at Mons, Aldershot, respectively; and how many of these are actively engaged in instruction duties and administrative duties, respectively.

Mr. Boyden

The details are given below:

Dr. David Owen

Each Service is normally represented on the Committee of Special Ceremonies by a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 staff officer. In addition, membership of the Committee includes representatives of the financial and secretarial branches, and public relations staff, of the Ministry of Defence, together with a representative of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Committee meets under the chairmanship of an Assistant Secretary of the Defence Secretariat.

The ceremonies connected with the 25th D-Day anniversary in Normandy were discussed in the course of a number of meetings by the Committee's normal membership. They were subsequently approved by the Principal Personnel Officers Committee, consisting of the Chief Adviser Personnel and Logistics, the Chief of Naval Personnel, the Adjutant General, the Air Member for Personnel and the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Administration.

Mr. Roebuck

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what communications his Department has received complaining that the Royal Navy's representation at the 25th D-Day anniversary ceremonies in Normandy was inadequate; and what replies have been sent.

Dr. David Owen

The Chief of Naval Staff has received one letter from a retired naval officer who was invited onboard H.M.S. "Wakeful" for the passage to Caen. The Chief of Naval Staff has replied that he considers the Royal Navy, the only Navy present, was well represented.