including Exocet are expected to be in, or coming into, service on a wide scale; and the new cruisers will be starting to become available, capable of operating V/STOL aircraft if further study shows that their provision would be effective and give value for money. During the interim years H.M.S. Ark Royal's embarked Phantom and Buccaneer aircraft will provide an invaluable comple- ment to the support supplied by shore-based aircraft to naval forces at sea. Her presence will alleviate the shortfall in the weapon capability of the Fleet. It will also offer a substantial reinforcement of NATO's maritime strength. The provision of the extra manpower for H.M.S. Ark Royal after 1972 will not require any immediate changes in the current naval programme; but H.M.S. Lion will not now be converted to the helicopter-carrying role.
16. This decision will ensure that the large capital sum invested in H.M.S. Ark Royal's recent refit will not be wasted. But in view of the serious man- power difficulties and the potential cost, the Government has decided against any extension of the life of H.M.S. Eagle. She will serve as planned until 1972, operating Sea Vixen and Buccaneer aircraft.
17. It is not planned to replace H.M.S. Ark Royal with another fixed-wing carrier. The Royal Air Force will still assume responsibility for providing fixed-wing air support for the Royal Navy from shore bases; but the full implementation of this task will be more gradual. The aircraft for H.M.S. Ark Royal will be provided from the total numbers already planned; and the maximum use will be made of planned Royal Air Force facilities for their maintenance and support. The aircraft embarked in H.M.S. Ark Royal will be flown in the main by Royal Naval aircrew, but Royal Air Force aircrew will participate as necessary. Some adjustment will be made to the rundown of Fleet Air Arm officers and ratings, but recruitment for fixed-wing flying will not be re-opened.
THE ARMY
18. The nation can be proud of the highly professional way in which the Army is carrying out the task of helping to keep the peace in Northern Ireland. But the Army is seriously short of the men that it needs. The plan of the previous Administration was to run down units with great traditions to a point that would have left an inadequate provision for unforeseen commitments; and the T. & A.V.R. has been so reduced that it no longer includes any uncommitted reserve.
19. The Northern Ireland situation illustrates the difficulties caused by the shortage and undermanning of Regular units. The reinforcements there reached their peak last July, when there were no fewer than fifteen major units in the infantry role compared with two infantry battalions before 1969. Since there was insufficient provision for unforeseen commitments of this kind, the task has had to be shared among units already committed to other essential duties.
20. The Government has now decided:
(1) to halt the rundown of major units of the British Army to the extent
that the manpower shortages permit;
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