§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the inadequate footwear available to the Services in the Falkland Islands campaign, he will take steps to accelerate his Department's consideration of the use of Porvair for the manufacture of lightweight, waterproof, breathable combat footwear for the Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PattieThe limitations of the standard issue DMS—directly moulded sole—boot were emphasised by the atrocious climatic conditions encountered in the Falklands campaign. After extensive research and trials, the new combat high boot was entering volume production at the time the Falklands war started, and it was thus not possible to equip our troops with it before hostilities ceased. Production and issue of this new boot is now well under way.
Ministry of Defence trials of Porvair have shown that the material is not suitable for combat footwear.