§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of all of the representations he has received relating to his proposals on new legislation for the reserve forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyOur consultative document "Britain's Reserve Forces: A Framework for the Future" was published on 12 October 1993. The period for responses closed on 23 November, but late replies are still arriving. By Monday 6 December, some 133 responses had been received. Many of the letters reveal the private addresses 293W and service affiliations of individuals, and it would therefore be inappropriate to publish them. I will, however, arrange for a factual summary of the responses, supported by appropriate extracts from the replies themselves, to be placed in the Library.
Separately, more than 400 further replies have been received by Sir Alexander Graham, the chairman of the National Employers' Liaison Committee for the Reserve Forces, in response to a request from him to employers for views. He has undertaken to prepare a consolidated response from NELC which will also be placed in the Library.
§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has regarding the policies of other NATO countries towards their reserve forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThe policy of NATO countries towards their reserve forces is a matter for their respective Governments. All member countries, except Iceland which has no armed forces, are able to mobilise their reserve forces in times of crisis and war.
There are, however, regular exchanges of views between representatives of the reserve forces of member countries under the auspices of the Confederation Inter-Alliée des Officiers de Réserve, and between the respective heads of the reserve forces in the National Reserve Forces Committee.