HC Deb 05 July 1978 vol 953 cc217-8W
Mr.Wiggin

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that no member of the Press has yet seen a copy of the Shapland report on the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve and what explanation he can give for the full report that recently appeared on this subject in The Times newspaper.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

My Department has not made copies of the report available to the Press. I cannot answer for reports which appear inThe Times newspaper.

Mr.Wiggin

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Shapland report on the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

In its Sixth Report—1976–77—the Expenditure Committee recommended that urgent consideration be given to increases in the levels of bounties payable to members of the TAVR and other reserve forces. Earlier this year the Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with the Council of TAVR Associations, commissioned the Shapland Report to study all aspects of manpower wastage in the TAVR and in particular the effects of rates of pay, bounties and allowances; and to make recommendations on how the rate of wastage might be reduced. The report which was carried out in a very short space of time was submitted to me on 26th June and contains recommendations that would lead to additional expenditure on the reserve forces and these are receiving urgent consideration. I shall, of course, announce the Government's decisions in due course.

Mr.Wiggin

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the report by Major-General Peter Shapland, concerning the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve, is a classified document.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

The classification of this document is restricted.