§ Mr. PearsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons those members of the reserve forces whose main qualifications are in transporting nuclear weapons have been sent letters asking them to volunteer to be considered for call-out for service in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. [4291]
§ Mr. SoamesVolunteers from the reserve forces, in particular the Territorial Army, continue to make a significant contribution in support of British operations in the former Yugoslavia. In line with this, volunteers are being sought to fill eight posts in December this year for which the driver qualification C + E—heavy goods 375W vehicles—is required. Letters have therefore been sent to some 50 members of the Regular Reserve who hold this qualification. There is no specific qualification within the British Army relating to the transport of nuclear weapons, and none of those to whom letters have been sent were selected on the basis of previous experience in this field.