§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of the Home Service Force; if he will specify in greater detail than that included in his statement of 3 March, Official Report, c. 273, the tasks envisaged for the force; and if he will take steps to ensure that it cannot be involved in industrial disputes.
§ Mr. WigginThe task of the new Home Service Force, on mobilisation, will be to give assistance to the existing Regular and Reserve home defence forces, particularly in the guarding of certain vital installations in the United Kingdom, which might be liable to attack in time of tension or war. I can assure the hon. Member that there is no intention of using the force in industrial disputes. The cost of the pilot scheme will be less than £0.5 million; that for the full scheme will not be clear until the pilot study has been completed but should be relatively small.