§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when British soldiers were first deployed to the Gulf; when appropriate desert boots were supplied to British soldiers; when all soldiers in the Gulf requiring desert boots will be supplied with them; where the desert boots now being supplied to British forces were made; and at what total cost of manufacture and supply;
(2) what complaints he has received from British forces in the Gulf about their boots issued at the time of deployment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe first significant deployment of ground troops to the Gulf followed my right hon. Friend's announcement on 14 September 1990. A report from 7 Armoured Brigade at the end of October 1990 indicated that some individuals were experiencing discomfort with their combat boots because of the heat and steps were at once taken to procure desert boots. Following trials, the first orders were placed in November504W 1990. Issues of desert boots have already been made and it is intended that all troops requiring desert combat boots will have at least one pair by mid-March. All desert boots for our forces have been ordered from United Kingdom manufacturers. The cost of these boots is a matter of commercial confidentiality.