HC Deb 11 December 1974 vol 883 cc195-6W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects individually to identify the Service personnel who are to be made redundant.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in order to prevent concern among all ranks of the Services, he will give the date on which he will announce his proposals for redundancies.

Mr. William Rodgers

It will not be possible to give more precise information on our redundancy proposals until all our consultations have been completed.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what reduction there will be in the number of Regular infantry, artillery and armoured units as a result of the defence review;

(2) whether he can give an assurance that no Highland infantry battalion will be disbanded as a result of the defence cuts.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him and the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) on Monday 9th December.

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the extent of the cuts in total and percentage terms in the Service and civilian personnel of the three Services at the conclusion of the defence review compared with 1964.

Mr. William Rodgers

The reductions over the period 1st April 1964 to 1st April 1979 are assessed as 131,000 or 29 per cent. for Service personnel and 140,000 or 32 per cent. for Ministry of Defence civilian personnel after broad adjustments have been made to reflect the more significant changes in departmental organisation.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what terms of compensation will be offered to Service personnel made redundant as a result of his defence cuts.

Mr. William Rodgers

These are still under consideration.

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