Defence

Army Training (Review)

Sir Antony Buck asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the recent review of Army training.

Mr. Stanley : The effectiveness of Army training is subject to continous review. In addition a fundamental study of Army individual training was instituted last year and a detailed report was submitted by Major General J. P. Groom, CBE in April this year.

This report covers a wide field and in particular suggests economies which might be achieved throughout the training organisation by adopting a greater degree of functional and phased training. Extracts from the report explaining this general concept have been placed in the Library.

The Ministry of Defence is now assessing the detailed and specific recommendations of the report. Various alternative ways of fulfilling the new concept are also being considered. No decisions have yet been reached.

Falklands Campaign (Battle Honours)

Sir Antony Buck asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is yet able to make a statement on whether ships and units which took part in the Falklands campaign will be able to include the campaign in their battle honours.

Mr. Heseltine : Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved the award of battle honours to ships and units of the three services and the Merchant Navy which took part in the campaign to liberate the Falkland Islands.

The award of the battle honour "Falkland Islands 1982" is to be made to all Her Majesty's ships, submarines and Fleet Air Arm squadrons which had passed or were below 80 35 south and were north of 60 south in the south Atlantic between 2 April and 14 June 1982. Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service vessels will similarly qualify as will ships taken up from trade in support of the operation. The ships and naval air squadrons which qualify are set out below.

In accordance with a long-standing tradition which dates back more than 150 years the Royal Marines do not receive battle honours for any individual operation or campaign in which they have been engaged. Instead the corps motif of the globe surrounded by laurel is the symbol of their outstanding service throughout the world.

The theatre honour "Falkland Islands 1982" together with honours for the engagements at Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Tumbledown Mountain and Wireless Ridge have been approved for the Army. Those regiments which took part in the campaign will be entitled to claim these honours in accordance with normal practice in the Army. After these claims have been considered by the Army Board recommendations will be submitted for Her Majesty The Queen's approval. I am therefore not able today to list the regiments which will be so honoured, but will make a further statement to the House in due course.

The squadrons of the Royal Air Force, which saw service between 2 April and 14 June 1982 south of 35 south and north of 60 south or took part in an operational sortie south of Ascension Island will be awarded the battle honour "South Atlantic 1982". The squadrons concerned are also set out below.

Her Majesty's Ships, Naval Air Squadrons, RFAs, RMAs and Mechant Navy Vessels to receive the Battle Honour "Falkland Islands 1982"

Her Majesty's Ships

• HMS Active
• HMS Alacrity
• HMS Ambuscade
• HMS Andromeda
• HMS Ante lope
• HMS Antrim
• HMS Ardent
• HMS Argonaut
• HMS Arrow
• HMS Avenger
• HMS Brilliant
• HMS Bristol
• HMS Broadsword
• HMS Cardiff
• HMS Coventry
• HMS Conqueror
• HMS Cordella
• HMS Courageous
• HMS Dumbarton Castle
• HMS Endurance
• HMS Exeter
• HMS Farnella
• HMS Fearless
• HMS Glamorgan
• HMS Glasgow
• HMS Hecht
• HMS Herald
• HMS Hermes
• HMS Hydra
• HMS Intrepid
• HMS Invincible
• HMS Junella
• HMS Leeds Castle
• HMS Minerva
• HMS Northella
• HMS Onyx
• HMS Penelope
• HMS Pict
• HMS Plymouth
• HMS Sheffield
• HMS Spartan
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• HMS Splendid
• HMS Valiant
• HMS Yarmouth

Royal Fleet Auxiliaries/Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service Vessels

• RFA Applefleaf
• RFA Bayleaf
• RFA Blue Rover
• RFA Brambleleaf
• RFA Engadine
• RFA Fort Austin
• RFA Fort Grange
• RFA Olmeda
• RFA Olna
• RFA Pearleaf
• RFA Plumleaf
• RFA Regent
• RFA Resource
• RFA Sir Bedivere
• RFA Sir Galahad
• RFA Sir Geraint
• RFA Sir Lancelot
• RFA Sir Percivale
• RFA Sir Tristram
• RFA Stromness
• RFA Tidepool
• RFA Tidespring
• RMAS Typhoon

i>Merchant ships taken up from trade

• MV Anco Charger
• SS Atlantic Causeway
• SS Atlantic Conveyor
• MV Baltic Ferry
• MV British Dart
• MV British Esk
• MV British Tay
• MV British Test
• MV British Trent
• MV British Wye
• SS Cberra
• MV Contender Bezant
• MV Elk
• MV Europic Ferry
• MV Fort Toronto
• MV Geestport
• CS Iris
• MT Irishman
• MV Lycaon
• MV Nordic Ferry
• MV Norland
• RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
• MV Saint Edmund
• MT Salvageman
• MV Saxonia
• MV Scottish Eagle
• MV Shell Eburna
• MV Stena Seaspread
• MV Tor Caledonia
• SS Uganda
• MV Wimpey Seahorse
• MT Yorkshireman