§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Civil Service pay dispute is damaging the United Kingdom's defence capability; and, in particular, whether the operations of Polaris submarines have been adversely affected, or the ability to monitor the military signals of members of the Warsaw Pact impaired.
§ Mr. SpeedAlthough selective industrial action by non-industrial civil servants has hindered some defence activities, essential operations, including provision of the strategic nuclear deterrent, have been maintained. It is not our policy to comment on intelligence matters of the kind raised in the latter part of the question.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report those Ministry of Defence establishments presently being used, or which have been used, for the storage of mail addressed to Inland Revenue centres affected by the Civil Service industrial action.
§ Mr. GoodhartNone is being used presently, but accommodation at Redford barracks, Edinburgh, and Milton Bridge barracks, Penicuik, has been used briefly by the Inland Revenue.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Defence which retired officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks have been invited to undertake the duties of civil servants who are presently involved in industrial action.
§ Mr. GoodhartThere has been no such invitation to retired Service personnel as such, but some civil servants who happen to be ex-members of the Services may have been required to undertake the duties of their colleagues who are taking industrial action.