§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence why the British Army of the Rhine now needs five divisional headquarters and nine brigade field force headquarters when previously there were only three and six, respectively; and what is the difference in costs.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe reference to three divisional headquarters and six brigade headquarters relates to the in-station organisation for our armoured forces before the 1974 defence review. At present we have four armoured division headquarters and nine brigade field force headquarters in-station. Under the reorganisation announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence last week there will be a reduction in the number of in-station armoured division headquarters to three and in in-station brigade/field force headquarters to eight. The proposed restructuring will achieve economies in overheads, notably by saving a divisional headquarters, and will correct operational defects in the current structure. It is riot possible to compare the costs of the new structure directly with that which existed before the 1974 defence review as the size of the headquarters has changed.