RECEIVED REGISTRY Nd.52
13 MAY 1975
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481
Written Arawers
8 MAY 1975
Houghton of Sowerby. The other members are:
Major Sir Tatton Brinton. Sir Edmund Compton.
Mr. J. Aitken,
Professor M. P. Fogarty.
Lord Greene of Harrow Weald. Professor D. N. MacCormick. Dr. W. E. J. McCarthy,
Mrs. M. Thomas.
Mr. H. R. Underhill.
Sir John Wall.
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The name of one further member of the committee will be announced later.
The full terms of reference are as follows:
"To consider whether, in the interests of parliamentary democracy, provision should be made from public funds to assist political parties in carrying out their functions outsido Parliament; to examine the practice of other parliamentary democracies in this field, and to make recommendations as to the scope of political activities to which any such provi- sion should relate and the method of its allocation."
DEFENCE
Industrial Employment
Mr. Warren asked the Secretary of State for Defence, following consultations with industry on the cuts announced in the Defence White Paper, what will be the total number of jobs lost in industry because of the defence cuts in each of the next five years.
Mr. William Rodgers: As I said in the defence debate on 7th May----[Vol. 891. c. 1565.]- there is now evidence that the loss of job opportunities in the defence industries over the next five years will be less than the 10,000 envisaged in the White Paper. Consultations with industry are continuing but the extent of redundancies remains a matter for the firms concerned.
Hong Kong
Mr. Mike Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give further details of his proposed 15 per cent, reduction in the Hong Kong British garrison and, in particular, which units vill be affected; what the cost savings will be what proportion of the garrison's costs will now be met by the Hong Kong authorities; and what this amounts tò in cash terms.
Written Answers
482
Mr. Robert C. Brown: The reductions announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 14th April-[Vol. 890, c. 13.]--were agreed in the context of the current cost-sharing agreement and do not affect its financial arrangements. The size of the future Hong Kong garrison is the subject of discussions with the Hong Kong Govern, ment in which we are seeking a larger Hong Kong contribution when the pre- sent cost-sharing agreement runs out in 1976. These discussions will, of course, take account of the economies made in the meantime but I cannot comment on what their outcome may be.
Woolwich Arsenal (Machinery and Equipment)
Mr. Cartwright asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total sum spent on the installation of machinery and equipment in the various Ministry of Defence establishments at Woolwich Arsenal since the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory in 1965.
Mr. Robert C. Brown: This informa- tion is not readily available owing to the amount and diversity of records kept by the various Ministry of Defence estab- lishments within Woolwich Arsenal. I shall write to my hon. Friend.
Nuclear Explosions
Mrs. Winifred Ewing asked the Secre- tary of State for Defence for what pur- poses peaceful nuclear explosions are carried out; and if he is satisfied with the benefits derived from these explosions.
Mr. Mason : Proposals have been made to use peaceful nuclear explosions for certain large-scale engineering projects and for the development of natural resources. It has not been satisfactorily established that any benefits gained thereby outweigh the problems involved. They are unlikely to do so within the United Kingdom, and we have no pro- gramme for peaceful nuclear explosions.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Sugar Beet
Mr. Kimball asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet in a position to say whether or not
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