IS D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' S
GOVERNMENT)
COPY NO.
CABINET
DEFENCE;
DRAFT WHITE
PAPER
M e m o r a n d u m by the Secreta£Y^^fJS tatefor^JJofence
I a t t a c h f o r t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of m y c o l l e a g u e s a d r a f t
White P a p e r , as r e v i s e d by the Defence and O v e r s e a Policy
C o m m i t t e e , which it is p r o p o s e d to publish before the S u m m e r
Recess.
D. W. H .
M i n i s t r y of D e f e n c e , S . W . 1.
4th J u l y .
1967
^ 3
DEFENCE vJHITE PAPER I.
INTROD u OilOF The Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1967 (Cmnd 3203) promised for later in the year another announcement about defence policy and the Government's plans for the size and shape of the forces for the next decade.
This White Paper reports the progress which has been made. 2.
At the end of the Defence Review we announced - in Part I
of the Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1966 (Cmnd 2901) ­
the decisions which we had taken in order to carry us close
to the financial objective for 1969/70.
Since then, as part
of the continuous process of reviewing defence policy and
programmes, we have looked beyond 1969/70 in order to determine
how much money and how many men we must plan to have in the
1970s in relation to the commitments and the tasks which-we
foresee, and to the resources which the country can afford for
defence.
We have followed the broad approach to future defence
policy described in the Defence Review.
But we have also taken
account of major developments of the last twelve months;
on
the economic side, a more pressing need to reduce OA^erseas
expenditure, a slower rate of growth than expected in the
British economy, and the consequent necessity to keep
Government expenditure as low as possible;
and, on the
political side, the evolution of Government policy in
relation to Europe, progress in revising NATO strategy, the
Middle East crisis, and developments in South East Asia
15
following the end of "confrontation .
3.
Defence policy can never he static.' The broad plans
set out in this white Paper are designed both to provide
firm decisions where these must be taken, and also to
/allow a l l o w room f o r manoeuvre where c h a n g i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s may­
r e q u i r e u s t o modify o u r p l a n s .
Our aim h a s b e e n t o
reconcil
t h e n e e d f o r t h e S e r v i c e s t o have a p e r i o d of s t a b i l i t y
t o e n a b l e them t o p l a n manpower and c a r e e r s and t o
t h e i r equipment,
adapt
t r a i n i n g and s u p p o r t programmes t o
i n t h e i r s h a p e and s i z e w i t h t h e i n e s c a p a b l e f a c t
and
changes
that,
a l t h o u g h we must e x e r c i s e what f o r e s i g h t we can i n our
p l a n n i n g ; we c a n n o t by o u r s e l v e s c o n t r o l t h e c o u r s e of
events in the
world.
/II. p ­
I T .
b-
0
ETJROPS
As was made c l e a r i n t h e S t a t e m e n t s on D e f e n c e
Estimates
1966 (Grand 2 9 0 1 ) and 1967 (Gmnd 3 2 0 3 ) , t h e s e c u r i t y of
Britain s t i l l
Europe.
d e p e n d s above a l l on t h e p r e v e n t i o n of w a r
The Government, t h e r e f o r e ,
r e g a r d i t as
in
essential
t o m a i n t a i n b o t h t h e m i l i t a r y e f f i c i e n c y and t h e
political
s o l i d a r i t y of t h e N o r t h A t l a n t i c T r e a t y O r g a n i s a t i o n .
For
t h i s p u r p o s e , we must c o n t i n u e t o make a s u b s t a n t i a l
contri­
"bution t o NAT0's f o r c e s
the
i n o r d e r t o p l a y our p a r t i n
d e f e n c e of E u r o p e and t o m a i n t a i n t h e n e c e s s a r y b a l a n c e
the Western a l l i a n c e o
within
Our c o n t r i b u t i o n w i l l become more
i m p o r t a n t a s we d e v e l o p c l o s e r p o l i t i c a l and economic
ties
b e t w e e n B r i t a i n and h e r E u r o p e a n n e i g h b o u r s *
5*
NATO h a s now a d o p t e d a c o n t i n u o u s p r o c e d u r e
for
establishing force requirements five years ahead.
This
g i v e s us a f i r m e r b a s i s f o r p l a n n i n g our c o n t r i b u t i o n
the a l l i a n c e .
S h o r t of come new d e v e l o p m e n t ,
to
such as
p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s m u t u a l r e d u c t i o n s of f o r c e s b y b o t h NATO
and t h e Warsaw P a c t c o u n t r i e s , we must new assume t h a t
our
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e a l l i a n c e w i l l r e m a i n b r o a d l y on t h e
same s c a l e a s a t p r e s e n t ,
some of our f o r c e s
6.
a l t h o u g h we may b e a b l e t o
redeploy
in peacetime.
S i n c e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e S t a t e m e n t on D e f e n c e
E s t i m a t e s , 1967 (Cmnd 3 2 0 3 ) l a s t F e b r u a r y , NATO h a s t a k e n
an i m p o r t a n t s t e p i n r e l a t i n g i t s
and economic r e a l i t i e s
strategy to the
of t h e l a t e 1 9 6 0 s .
political
At t h e i r
i n May 1 9 6 7 , t h e D e f e n c e M i n i s t e r s of t h e a l l i a n c e
meeting
agreed
on p o l i t i c a l g u i d a n c e w h i c h s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o t h e m i l i t a r j ' "
a u t h o r i t i e s for future force planningj
i t was b a s e d on a
r e a s s e s s m e n t of t h e t h r e a t c o n f r o n t i n g t h e a l l i a n c e and of
- 3 ­
t h e r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e t o meet i t .
time t h a t ,
since a Soviet attack
We h a v e a r g u e d f o r
some
i n Europe i s u n l i k e l y
p r e s e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s , and t h a t we s h o r l d p r o b a b l y
in
receive
ample w a r n i n g of a n y c h a n g e i n t h o s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
some
of t h e f o r c e s r e q u i r e d i n Germany i n an e m e r g e n c y c o u l d b e
held elsewhere in peacetime, provided t h a t they could be
returned promptly if a c r i s i s
la
occurred.
We h a v e p r o p o s e d t o our a l l i e s
i n NATO and V/HU t h a t
we s h o u l d r e d e p l o y t o t h e U n i t e d Kingdom e a r l y i n 1968
one b r i g a d e of BA.CTR and one s q u a d r o n of RAF, G e r m a n y .
believe that,
a g a i n s t the s t r a t e g i c background
a b o v e , t h e s e a r e r e a s o n a b l e p r o p o s a l s and a r e
that
t h e y w i l l he a c c e p t e d b y o u r a l l i e s .
We
outlined
confident
They c o u l d
lead
t o f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e s a v i n g s of a b o u t o5?M i n a f u l l
year.
The r e d e p l o y m e n t i n i t s e l f would h a v e l i t t l e
on t h e
defence budget
existence
effect
s i n c e t h e f o r c e s c o n c e r n e d would r e m a i n
in
i n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom and a v a i l a b l e t o NATO i n
an emergency.
8.
The l o n g - t e r m p r o b l e m of m e e t i n g t h e f o r e i g n
c o s t of m a i n t a i n i n g c u r f o r c e s
resolved.;
exchange
i n Germany h a s n o t y e t b e e n
but t h i s i s r e c o g n i s e d by cur a l l i e s as a m a t t e r
requiring further
consideration.
We h a v e ,
however,
c o n c l u d e d a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h t h e USA. and t h e F e d e r a l
Government of Germany w h i c h w i l l e n a b l e t h e b u l k of
f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e c o s t s i n Germany i n 1967/68 t o b e
I t r e m a i n s our p o l i c y t o f i n d
cover these c o s t s t h e r e a f t e r
a l l i e s about
this.
LI­
our
covered.
s a t i s f a c t o r y arrangements
to
and we a r e i n t o u c h w i t h o u r
III.
9.
ROLE AND DEPLOYMENT OUTSIDE EUROPE
The aim of o u r p o l i c y o u t s i d e E u r o p e i s , a s we s a i d
t h e S t a t e m e n t on Defence E s t i m a t e s ,
in
1967, (Cmnd 3203) " t o
foste
d e v e l o p m e n t s which w i l l e n a b l e t h e l o c a l p e o p l e s t o l i v e
at
p e a c e w i t h o u t t h e p r e s e n c e of e x t e r n a l f o r c e s " ,
to
a l l o w our f o r c e s t o w i t h d r a w from t h e i r
E a s t and F a r E a s t .
and t h u s
s t a t i o n s i n t h e Middle
We c a n n o t p r e d i c t e x a c t l y when t h e
situatio
w i l l make t h i s p o s s i b l e i n e v e r y a r e a where o u r f o r c e s a r e now
s t a t i o n e d ^ and,
i n p l a n n i n g t h e w i t h d r a w a l of our f o r c e s ,
we
must t a k e a c c o u n t of t h e i m p a c t of o u r p l a n s on t h e p e o p l e s
c o n c e r n e d , and o n t h e p o l i c i e s of o u r a l l i e s .
We r e m a i n
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s e c u r i t y of o u r d e p e n d e n c i e s ; we h a v e
o b l i g a t i o n s t o o u r Commonwealth p a r t n e r s and a l l i e s ; and our
p o l i t i c a l and economic i n t e r e s t
i n t h e s t a b i l i t y of t h e
world
o u t s i d e Europe makes i t d e s i r a b l e t h a t we s h o u l d r e t a i n some
capacity for
c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of p e a c e w h e r e we
c a n u s e f u l l y do s o w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l
10.
agreement.
B u t , t h e way i n which we s h o u l d d i s c h a r g e
our
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d make o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o p e a c e - k e e p i n g
continually changing.
In the next decade
?
new a i r c r a f t
e n a b l e u s t o move f o r c e s a c r o s s t h e w o r l d f a s t e r a n d i n
numbers t h a n was p o s s i b l e e v e n a few y e a r s a g o .
s t r e n g t h of o u r f r i e n d s and a l l i e s i s g r o w i n g .
The
is
will
larger
military
The power and
p o l i c y of our p o t e n t i a l a d v e r s a r i e s a r e a l s o l i a b l e t o change.,
And we must w a t c h t h e e f f e c t
of t h e r i s i n g c o s t s of defence
t h e economic s t a t e of t h e n a t i o n ,
since our
on
international
i n f l u e n c e w i l l c o n t i n u e -to d e p e n d a s much on t h e s o u n d n e s s of
o u r economy a s on o u r m i l i t a r y
11.
strength.
The Government e x p l a i n e d i n t h e S t a t e m e n t on t h e D e f e n c e
Estimates,
1966 (Cmnd 2901) t h a t i t would n o t u n d e r t a k e
major
o p e r a t i o n s of war e x c e p t i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h a l l i e s ; a n d would
make t h e commitments t o o u r f r i e n d s d e p e n d e n t on t h e
/in
provision
time
i n t i m e of w h a t e v e r f a c i l i t i e s we n e e d e d o n t h e s p o t .
planning since then has led to
Firstly,
a s our f r i e n d s
t h e i r own f o r c e s ,
four
important
Our
conclusions.
a n d a l l i e s o u t s i d e E u r o p e b u i l d up
t h e y w i l l v a l u e most from B r i t a i n a
c o n t r i b u t i o n i n t h o s e s o p h i s t i c a t e d f o r c e s w h i c h some of
may f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t
to provide f o r themselves.
t h e manpower and f i x e d f a c i l i t i e s
them
Secondly,
i n o u r m i l i t a r y b a s e s may
come t o c o s t more t h a n i s r e q u i r e d b y t h e t y p e of
o p e r a t i o n s w h i c h t h e Government f o r e s e e s .
military
Thirdly,
the
visible
p r e s e n c e o f e v e n s m a l l f o r c e s - n o t n e c e s s a r i l y d e p e n d e n t on
l a r g e and e x p e n s i v e b a s e f a c i l i t i e s
deterrent.
Fourthly,
in a c r i s i s ,
- may b e a v a l u a b l e
i t w i l l b e more e c o n o m i c a l
t o r e l y m a i n l y on s e n d i n g - f o r c e s from B r i t a i n ,
so l o n g a s some
r e d u c t i o n i n s p e e d of r e a c t i o n and some i n i t i a l r e s t r i c t i o n
the r o l e of t h e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s can be
12.
The Government h a s t h e r e f o r e
in
accepted.
revised i t s plans
for
d e p l o y i n g f o r c e s o u t s i d e E u r o p e so a s t o e n a b l e m a j o r
reductions
t o b e made i n t h e s i z e and c o s t of o u r f o r c e s a s a w h o l e .
have h a d t o make a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t t h e p a c e a t w h i c h t h e
p l a n s c a n be c a r r i e d o u t ; b u t we may w i s h t o c a r r y o u t
We
revised
the
programme of r e d u c t i o n and r e d e p l o y m e n t e i t h e r more s l o w l y o r
more q u i c k l y a c c o r d i n g t o p o l i t i c a l o r economic n e e d .
13.
The Government h a s a l r e a d y a n n o u n c e d , and gone some way t o
implement, p l a n s f o r
the r e d u c t i o n s i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n ,
S o u t h A t l a n t i c and t h e C a r i b b e a n .
I t h a s a l s o announced
p l a n t o w i t h d r a w from S o u t h A r a b i a and t h e Aden b a s e
January 1968.
For a s h o r t time a f t e r
we s h a l l p r o v i d e
its
in
however,
B r i t i s h n a v a l and a i r f o r c e s i n t h e a r e a
a s s i s t t h e new s t a t e t o d e t e r a n d ,
aggression.
independence,
the
i f n e e d b e , t o meet
external
7e a r e a l s o i n c r e a s i n g t h e f i n a n c i a l and o t h e r
a s s i s t a n c e w h i c h we a r e g i v i n g t o w a r d s t h e b u i l d - u p and
improvement of t h e S o u t h A r a b i a n
forces.
to
1h.
I n t h e Fan E a s t t h e Government h a s d e c i d e d t o r e d u c e
f o r c e s deployed i n Singapore and Malaysia by about h a l f
1970/71.
At p r e s e n t ,
This i n c l u d e s Servicemen,
c i v i l i a n s and
c o m p a n i e s on s e a s e r v i c e i n t h e F a r E a s t .
total
by
t h e t o t a l number of men and women w o r k i n g
i n o r f o r t h e S e r v i c e s i n S i n g a p o r e a n d Malaysia- i s
80,000.
the
about
ships'
By A p r i l 1968,
i s e s t i m a t e d t o be a b o u t 7 0 , 0 0 0 , r e f l e c t i n g t h o
the
second
s t a g e of t h e r e d u c t i o n of 2 0 , 0 0 0 i n t h e F a r E a s t f o l l o w i n g
end of " c o n f r o n t a t i o n " .
expect a further
the
B e t w e e n A p r i l 1968 a n d 1970/71 we
r e d u c t i o n i n S i n g a p o r e a n d M a l a y s i a of
about
3 0 , 0 0 0 , l e a v i n g a t o t a l of a b o u t u 0 , 0 0 0 , of which a b o u t h a l f
w i l l be c i v i l i a n s .
The r e d u c t i o n s w i l l be so p h a s e d t h a t ,
the e a r l y 1970s, the B r i t i s h f o r c e s
s t i l l s t a t i o n e d in Singapore
and M a l a y s i a w i l l c o n s i s t l a r g e l y of n a v a l
a m p h i b i o u s f o r c e ) and a i r f o r c e s
Gurkha f o r c e s
in Malaysia.
our base f a c i l i t i e s .
by
( i n c l u d i n g an
- though t h e r e w i l l s t i l l be
C o r r e s p o n d i n g c u t s w i l l be made i n
These r e d u c t i o n s have now b e e n s e t
h a n d o n t h e b a s i s of t h e c l o s e s t p o s s i b l e w o r k i n g
in
relationship
w i t h t h e Governments of S i n g a p o r e and. M a l a y s i a , and on t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e y w i l l b e accompanied, b y s i g n i f i c a n t
t o h e l p t h o s e Governments t o c o u n t e r a c t t h e e f f e c t s
aid
on t h e i r
economi e s ,
15.
The Government i n t e n d s t o change i t s F a r E a s t
p a r a l l e l with these reductions.
commitments
We s h a l l c o n t i n u e t o h o n o u r
o u r o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r SEATO, b u t t h e f o r c e s a s s i g n e d t o
SEATO p l a n s w i l l b e p r o g r e s s i v e l y r e d u c e d .
specific
As we come t o
rely
more on r e i n f o r c e m e n t from B r i t a i n , we s h a l l make c l e a r t h a t we
s h a l l n e e d a l o n g e r t i m e i n w h i c h t o d e p l o y any f o r c e s which we
decide to c o n t r i b u t e .
B r i t a i n w i l l honour her o b l i g a t i o n s
t h e A n g l o / M a l a y s i a n Defence Agreements
t h e r e w i l l be
c o n s u l t a t i o n s on t h e way i n w h i c h we s h o u l d p l a n t o meet
The Government w i l l a l s o c o n t i n u e making a
them.
significant
/ c o n t r i b u t ion
- 7 ­
imder
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e Commonwealth S t r a t e g i c R e s e r v e ,
c o n t a i n s n a v a l , l a n d and a i r f o r c e s .
which
This i s a matter
w i t h t h e f u t u r e o f t h e Commonwealth B r i g a d e , we a r e
which,
discussing
w i t h o u r Commonwealth p a r t n e r s .
i6.
It
i s n o t a t p r e s e n t p o s s i b l e t o p l a n i n t h e same
the p e r i o d beyond 1 9 7 0 / 7 1 .
years w i l l be s u b s t a n t i a l :
detail
The r e d u c t i o n s o v e r t h e n e x t
few
t h e Government i s d e t e r m i n e d
that
t h e y w i l l t a k e p l a c e i n an o r d e r l y m a n n e r , w h i c h w i l l e n a b l e
Commonwealth p a r t n e r s t o a d j u s t
S i n g a p o r e and M a l a y s i a
t h e i r p l a n s , and w i l l
our
allow
t o make t h e n e c e s s a r y economic
t r a n s i t i o n as smoothly a s p o s s i b l e .
We p l a n t o w i t h d r a w
a l t o g e t h e r from o u r b a s e s i n S i n g a p o r e a n d M a l a y s i a i n t h e
1 9 7 0 s ; b u t t h e p r e c i s e t i m i n g of o u r e v e n t u a l w i t h d r a w a l
d e p e n d on p r o g r e s s made i n a c h i e v i n g a new b a s i s f o r
middle
will
stability
i n S o u t h E a s t A s i a and i n r e s o l v i n g o t h e r p r o b l e m s i n t h e F a r
East.
17o
M e a n w h i l e , o u r p l a n s must be f i r m enough t o e n s u r e t h a t we
h a v e t h e f o r c e s we n e e d t o match o u r r e m a i n i n g commitments
t h e F a r E a s t and e l s e w h e r e , a n d e
flexible
enough t o
u s t o respond, t o c h a n g e s i n l o c a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
in
enable
However we
may t h i n k t h a t e v e n t s w i l l t u r n o u t , we c a n n o t p l a n on t h e
a s s u m p t i o n t h a t v/e s h a l l n e v e r have t o u s e o u r f o r c e s
E u r o p e , where we s h a l l r e t a i n d e p e n d e n c i e s and o t h e r
for the foreseeable
future.
outside
obligations
We a r e t h e r e f o r e p l a n n i n g
maintain a military capability for use, if required,
to
i n the Far
E a s t - e v e n when we no l o n g e r have f o r c e s p e r m a n e n t l y b a s e d
the
18.
in
area.
We do n o t n e e d t o s e t t l e
the p r e c i s e c h a r a c t e r ,
d e p l o y m e n t of t h i s c a p a b i l i t y now.
size
and
I t would be l a r g e l y composed,
h o w e v e r , of t h e f o r c e s of a l l t h r e e S e r v i c e s w h i c h would b e
s t a t i o n e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y f o r employment
as a
strategic
r e s e r v e ; and we s h o u l d p r o b a b l y k e e p i n t h e F a r E a s t some o f
t h e n a v a l and a m p h i b i o u s f o r c e s i n c l u d e d i n i t .
The
/which
discussions
which, a r e c o n t i n u i n g w i t h t h e A u s t r a l i a n Government a b o u t
p o s s i b i l i t y of o u r h a v i n g f a c i l i t i e s
i n A u s t r a l i a , and t h e
e x a m i n a t i o n we a r e making of a new s t a g i n g a i r f i e l d
B r i t i s h I n d i a n Ocean T e r r i t o r y ,
the
in the
are designed to lead to
f l e x i b i l i t y r e q u i r e d by our long-term defence
/IV.
planning.
THE FORCES the
IV. : THE FORCES 19.
The p r o g r e s s made i n t h e r e v i s i o n of NATO s t r a t e g y
and f o r c e p l a n n i n g and t h e e v o l u t i o n of our f u t u r e
policy
o u t s i d e E u r o p e , h a v e made i t p o s s i b l e t o r e a c h b r o a d
d e c i s i o n s on t h e l o n g - t e r m s h a p e and s i z e of our
and f o r r e d u c i n g t h e f a c i l i t i e s
which support
forces,
and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
services
them.
Tjie R o y a l Navy
20.
The P o l a r i s f o r c e w i l l h e B r i t a i n ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n
the strategic nuclear deterrent
of t h e W e s t .
to
The Navy
w i l l also continue to play a leading part in the
of NATO "
maritime
shield forces/and to provide for
future
the foreseeable
a v a l u a b l e p e a c e - k e e p i n g c a p a b i l i t y o u t s i d e Europe by t h e
u n o b s t r u s i v e and f l e x i b l e
e x e r c i s e of m a r i t i m e p o w e r .
F o r t h e s e r o l e s our n a v a l f o r c e s r e q u i r e t h e a b i l i t y
fight
and s u r v i v e i n t h e e n v i r o n m e n t
and n u c l e a r - p o w e r e d s u b m a r i n e ;
of t h e g u i d e d
t h e y must,
21.
A i r power
of tomorrow a s
t h e Navy, l i k e t h e Army, w i l l r e l y on t h e a b i l i t y
Royal Air Force l a n d - b a s e d a i r c r a f t
missile
therefore,
i n c l u d e some s h i p s of t h e h i g h e s t c a p a b i l i t y .
w i l l he as i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o t h e F l e e t
to
of
today;
the
t o support t h e i r
A p a r t from t h e P o l a r i s s u b m a r i n e s ,
t h e main
forces.
striking
power of t h e Navy w i l l b e p r o v i d e d by t h e g r o w i n g f o r c e
nuclear-powered submarines.
For the surface f l e e t ,
LEANDER f r i g a t e s w i l l b e o r d e r e d ;
being planned as a successor,
range s u r f a c e - t o - a i r
of
more
and a s m a l l f r i g a t e
is
w h i c h w i l l c a r r y a new c l o s e ­
g u i d e d m i s s i l e t o f o l l o w SEACAT, a
m e d i u m - r a n g e g u n , and a new g e n e r a l p u r p o s e h e l i c o p t e r
r e p l a c e t h e WASP.
The Type 82 d e s t r o y e r now on o r d e r
w i l l be completed;
t h e d e s i g n w i l l n o t be c o n t i n u e d i n
p r e s e n t form f o r f u r t h e r
to
its
s h i p s of t h i s c l a s s , b u t w i l l b e
/developed
d e v e l o p e d i n two w a y s .
c l a s s of c r u i s e r s ,
Estimates,
I t w i l l "be e n l a r g e d i n t o t h e new
forecast
i n t h e s t a t e m e n t on t h e D e f e n c e
1966 (Cmnd. 2 9 0 1 ) , t o s u c c e e d t h e
TIGER c l a s s c r u i s e r s ;
converted
and a l s o s c a l e d down f o r a new c l a s s
of s m a l l e r d e s t r o y e r s .
The c r u i s e r s ,
command and c o n t r o l f a c i l i t i e s
h e armed, l i k e t h e Type 8 2
5
for
which w i l l
provide
our n a v a l f o r c e s ,
will
w i t h t h e SEA DART s u r f a c e - t o ­
a i r guided m i s s i l e system.
In a d d i t i o n ,
they w i l l carry a
f o r c e of t h e new SEA KING h e l i c o p t e r s armed w i t h
s u b m a r i n e weapons and. e o n a r ,
anti­
The new d e s t r o y e r s w i l l
a m o d i f i e d v e r s i o n of SEA. DART and a s m a l l e r
carry
helicopter;
e v e r y s h i p from f r i g a t e u p w a r d s w i l l h a v e t h e most
effective
c a p a c i t y f o r r e c o n n a i s s a n c e and a t t a c k t h a t h e l i c o p t e r s
can
offer.
The^ Army
22.
The Army w i l l c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e t h e major
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o NATO.
British
T h e r e d e p l o y m e n t of a b r i g a d e
Germany would n o t a f f e c t
t h e Army's f o r c e l e v e l s ,
from
because
t h e b r i g a d e would r e m a i n earmarked, f o r a s s i g n m e n t t o NATO,
as s t a t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 7 above.
The accommodation programme
a l r e a d y i n hand t o p r o v i d e f o r w i t h d r a w a l s r e f e r r e d t o
in
t h e S t a t e m e n t on t h e D e f e n c e E s t i m a t e s 19^7 (Cmnd.. 3203)
has
b e e n e x t e n d e d t o c o v e r t h e a d d i t i o n a l n u m b e r s now r e t u r n i n g ,
i n c l u d i n g t h o s e from BAOR.
23.
The s i z e of t h e Army o u t s i d e E u r o p e w i l l b e
reduced.
gradually
A l l our t r o o p s w i l l l e a v e S o u t h A r a b i a
i n d e p e n d e n c e comes i n 1 9 6 8 ;
the increase In the
after
garrison
s t a t i o n e d i n t h e P e r s i a n Gulf t o meet our r e m a i n i n g
o b l i g a t i o n s w i l l be small.
garrison this year.
complete
We a r e r e d u c i n g t h e
Cyprus
In Malta a phased withdrawal w i l l be
by t h e end of 1 9 7 1 .
In the Ear East,
the main
r e d u c t i o n s w i l l be made i n M a l a y s i a and S i n g a p o r e ;
-H ...
/garrison
but
the
g a r r i s o n i n Hong Kong w i l l b e m a i n t a i n e d .
When our
f o r c e s h a v e b e e n w i t h d r a w n from t h e Aden b a s e i n J a n u a r y
1968 t h e S t r a t e g i c R e s e r v e w i l l b e s t r e n g t h e n e d by a
Infantry
2U.
further
brigade.
Our p l a n s f o r
t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e I n f a n t r y were
announced i n t h e House of Commons i n May.
They w i l l
b r i n g g r e a t e r economy and e f f i c i e n c y w i t h o u t
destroying
t h e i n d i v i d u a l i d e n t i t y of I n f a n t r y R e g i m e n t s .
A new
Army S t r a t e g i c Command w i l l b e formed l a t e r i n 1 9 6 8 .
w i l l command a l l f i e l d f o r c e f o r m a t i o n s and u n i t s
i n B r i t a i n a p a r t from f o r m a t i o n s e a r m a r k e d f o r
This
stationed
assignment
t o NATO and employed on p u b l i c d u t i e s and t r a i n i n g .
general,
balanced,
t h o u g h i t w i l l be s m a l l e r ,
t h e Army w i l l
In
remain
and w e l l - e q u i p p e d .
The R o y a l A i r F o r c e
2 5 . T h e r e w i l l b e no change i n t h e r o l e of t h e R o y a l A i r
F o r c e , w h i c h w i l l r e m a i n a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e S t a t e m e n t s on
t h e Defence E s t i m a t e s 1966 (Cmnd.
2901) and 1967 (Cmnd.
3203).
26.
Major d e c i s i o n s a b o u t t h e f u t u r e
e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e RAF
have a l r e a d y b e e n a n n o u n c e d and a p j e r i o d of
r e - e q u i p m e n t w i t h new a i r c r a f t
large-scale
has a l r e a d y begun.
The
o n l y c h a n g e s now p l a n n e d r e l a t e t o t h e s i z e of t h e
required:
in particular,
forces
b e c a u s e t h e f o r c e s w i l l be
smaller,
i t w i l l n o t now be n e c e s s a r y t o o r d e r any
Phantoms.
/ T h i s p a s s a g e t o b e amended i n l i g h t
further
of r e v i e w
of AFVG- p r o j e c t ^ " .
Reductions^^ij^^uppprt
27.
Base F a c i l i t i e s - T h i s r e d e p l o y m e n t
of o u r f o r c e s
e n a b l e u s t o r u n down s t o c k s and s u p p o r t i n g
overseas, p a r t i c u l a r l y in the Far East.
facilities
will
285 CZCRET
28.
We i n t e n d t o r e d u c e s u p p o r t i n g s e r v i c e s s t i l l
i n t h r e e ways.
In the f i r s t
place,
the smaller size
the forces w i l l i n i t s e l f produce r e d u c t i o n s in
support.
by a d v a n c e d management
and t h e w i d e r u s e of c o m p u t e r s .
Finally,
of
their
I n t h e s e c o n d p l a c e , we s h a l l make t h e
s e r v i c e s more e f f i c i e n t
further
supporting
techniques
t h e p l a n s which
a r e b e i n g worked o u t i n d e t a i l by e a c h S e r v i c e w i l l b e
c o - o r d i n a t e d t o e l i m i n a t e d u p l i c a t i o n and t o b r i n g
greater
29.
about
rationalisation.
We p l a n t o make s u b s t a n t i a l c u t s i n b o t h
and c i v i l i a n s u p p o r t p e r s o n n e l ,
uniformed
t o c l o s e some s u p p l y d e p o t s ,
t o a m a l g a m a t e some t r a i n i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t s ,
and t o r e d u c e
c e r t a i n s t o c k s and r e s e r v e s .
30.
0
u
a
r
:
e
p
s
MJ^isJ^rx^f^eX^A ^-J^^Q^r ^ r '."* , , , .'
In. t h e s h o r t
t h e p l a n n i n g and e x e c u t i o n of d e f e n c e p o l i c y d e c i s i o n s
term,
will
c r e a t e more work i n t h e M i n i s t r y of D e f e n c e and we c a n n o t
e x p e c t t o make s u b s t a n t i a l r e d u c t i o n s i n t h e i m m e d i a t e
We s h a l l ,
however,
wherever p o s s i b l e ,
s i z e of t h e f o r c e s ,
cut s t a f f s ,
functions,
a s soon a s we can and
as t h e r e s u l t
of t h e r e d u c t i o n s i n t h e
t h e c h a n g e s i n our o v e r s e a s
t h e c u t s i n some c a p a b i l i t i e s ,
the curtailment
commitments,
of
t h e s t r e a m l i n i n g and r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n
support
of
our
g e n e r a l o r g a n i s a t i o n and t h e c o n t i n u e d improvement
management t e c h n i q u e s .
31.
of
We h o p e t h a t r e d u c t i o n s w i l l
r e s u l t from t h e f u r t h e r
future.
e v o l u t i o n of d e f e n c e
also
organisation.
We h a v e a l s o r e v i e w e d t h e d e f e n c e r e s e a r c h and
d e v e l o p m e n t programme.
A r e d u c t i o n of a b o u t £30m i s
b e made i n I t ,
development p r o j e c t s as w e l l as
affecting
r e s e a r c h done i n Government e s t a b l i s h m e n t s and i n
This w i l l free
s c i e n t i f i c manpower and o t h e r
resources for c i v i l
work.
-
13
to
industry.
valuable
S e r v i c e Manpower
32.
We i n t e n d t h a t by March 1971 t h e a c t i v e s t r e n g t h s
t h e f o r c e s s h a l l f a l l by n e a r l y 3 7 , 0 0 0 , a s
US
"
1.U.1967
31.3.1971
Note;
'
"
-
-
-
-
-
-
follows:-
UK
Women and Boys ( s e e n o t e
Adult., Males
ii
of
-
-
Arm£
ME
-
'3)eTovTj"
­
SS
Army;
RAF­
93,200
179,900
116,550
3,850
16,300
7,56o
Sl+,800
166,100
102,000
3,600
15,100
8,500
F o r R o y a l Navy, b o y s a r e i n c l u d e d i n a d u l t male
figures.
We a r e p l a n n i n g t o make f u r t h e r r e d u c t i o n s i n t h e y e a r s
beyond 1 9 7 1 , and v/e f o r e s e e a t o t a l r e d u c t i o n of a b o u t
7 5 , 0 0 0 on p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h s by t h e t i m e t h a t we h a v e
finally
w i t h d r a w n from M a l a y s i a and S i n g a p o r e i n t h e m i d - 1 9 7 0 s .
33*
The r e d u c t i o n s w i l l be so f a r a s p o s s i b l e by n o r m a l
w a s t a g e , b u t some o f f i c e r s
and men w i l l become
redundant.
To m i t i g a t e t h i s r e d u n d a n c y we s h a l l s p r e a d i t a s
a s we can o v e r t h e p e r i o d .
The o f f i c e r s
evenly
and men c o n c e r n e d
w i l l b e c o m p e n s a t e d by p a y m e n t s on t h e l i n e s s e t out i n an
a n n e x t o t h i s White P a p e r .
D e t a i l e d p l a n s w i l l t a k e some
months t o be worked out by a l l t h r e e S e r v i c e s and w i l l b e
p u b l i s h e d as soon a s p o s s i b l e .
3k.
We s h a l l a l s o e x t e n d t h e f a c i l i t i e s
training.
for
resettlement
I n a d d i t i o n , v/e a r e making p l a n s , which w i l l
s h o r t l y he p r o m u l g a t e d t o t h e S e r v i c e s ,
to give
positive
and p r a c t i c a l h e l p t o t h o s e l e a v i n g t h e S e r v i c e s so t h a t
t h e y c a n f i n d s u i t a b l e employment i n c i v i l
35.
life.
The r e d u c t i o n and r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of b a s e
a t home and a b r o a d and t h e f u r t h e r
facilities
s t r e a m l i n i n g of t h e
M i n i s t r y of D e f e n c e h e a d q u a r t e r s w i l l r e d u c e t h e number of
c i v i l i a n s r e q u i r e d t o s u p p o r t combat f o r c e s w i t h i n
the
U n i t e d Kingdom and i n t h e o v e r s e a s commands by a b o u t 1+5,000
UK c i v i l i a n s and 5 5 , 0 0 0 l o c a l e n t r a n t s .
' ^ "
T h e r e w i l l he
/ c on su I t a t i on
full
consultation with the appropriate staff
associations
t r a d e unions about these r e d u c t i o n s as the p l a n s
and
develop,
Manpower Sumrnarv,
360
To sum u p , we a r e p l a n n i n g t o a c h i e v e a r e d u c t i o n
in
t h e p r e s e n t s t r e n g t h s of UK S e r v i c e manpower w h i c h w i l l
amount t o n e a r l y 3 7 , 0 0 0 by March 1 9 7 1 , and t o a t o t a l
a b o u t 7 5 , 0 0 0 by t h e mid 1 9 7 0 s ,
We a r e a l s o p l a n n i n g
1
of
re due­
t i o n s of c i v i l i a n manpower, b o t h UK and. l o c a l l y e n t e r e d ,
t h e o r d e r 03? 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 o v e r t h e same p e r i o d .
w i l l be g r a d u a l l y r e f l e c t e d
These
of
reductions
i n cuts in the c a p a b i l i t y
of
a l l t h r e e S e r v i c e s - f e w e r s h i p s , u n i t s and s q u a d r o n s t h a n
we d e p l o y t o d a y ,
and. c o r r e s p o n d i n g r e d u c t i o n s i n our e q u i p m e n t
programmes.
A . ^ ..COST
- 15 ­
V.
37.
COST
As one of t h e m a i n f i n a n c i a l
D e f e n c e Review, we s e t a t a r g e t
t o be r e a c h e d i n 1969/70.
o b j e c t i v e s of
of £ 2 , 0 0 0 m .
Since,
the
( a t 196k p r i c e s )
as e x p l a i n e d t o t h e
House of Commons i n 1 9 6 6 , t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n s t o
complete
t h e D e f e n c e Review c o u l d n o t b e t a k e n b e f o r e t h e end of
"confrontation",
t h e e q u i p m e n t p r o g r a m m e s , manpower
strengths
and d e p l o y m e n t s c u r r e n t l y p l a n n e d would h a v e l e d t o a d e f e n c e
b u d g e t i n t h e r e g i o n o f £ 2 , 1 0 0 m . a t I96U p r i c e s i n 1 9 7 0 / 7 1 .
The p l a n s now worked o u t ,
on t h e b a s i s i n p a r t i c u l a r of
new a p p r o a c h t o p o l i c y i n t h e F a r E a s t , w i l l e n a b l e
defence budget for
£200m.
the
1 9 7 0 / 7 1 t o b e r e d u c e d by a f u r t h e r
Not a l l t h e e c o n o m i e s now p l a n n e d w i l l b e
"by 1 9 7 0 / 7 1 ,
the
realised
and t h e Government e x p e c t s t h e a n n u a l l e v e l
of
d e f e n c e e x p e n d i t u r e t o h a v e d r o p p e d by t h e m i d - 1 9 7 0 s by a
f u r t h e r £100m.
A s m a l l p a r t of t h e s e s a v i n g s w i l l b e
s e t i n t h e s h o r t r u n by t h e c o s t of d e a l i n g w i t h
r e d u c t i o n s and r e d e p l o y m e n t ,
and of p r o v i d i n g
t e r m s f o r t h o s e who become r e d u n d a n t .
already stated,
significant
off­
the
compensation
In a d d i t i o n ,
as
t h e Government i s c o m m i t t e d t o p r o v i d e
f i n a n c i a l a i d t o M a l a y s i a and S i n g a p o r e and
South A r a b i a .
38.
The d e c i s i o n s of t h e Government W i l l a l s o r e d u c e
of o v e r s e a s d e f e n c e e x p e n d i t u r e .
Annex H t o t h e
levels
Statement
on t h e D e f e n c e E s t i m a t e s I 9 6 7 (Cmnd. 3203) showed t h a t ,
from Germany, where some s e p a r a t e means of b a l a n c i n g
f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e o u t g o i n g s must b e f o u n d ,
local
apart
our
defence
e x p e n d i t u r e i s e x p e c t e d t o d r o p from £173m. t o o152m. by
;
t h e end of t h e c u r r e n t f i n a n c i a l y e a r .
The p l a n s
outlined
i n t h i s p a p e r w i l l e n a b l e a f u r t h e r £30m. t o be saved by
1970/71.
T h i s i s a c u t of a b o u t 30'/ i n t h e p r e s e n t
level,
1
6
/yij^J2SM2MIMIM'
VI.
39.
T h i s f/hite P a p e r c o m p l e t e s t h e p r o c e s s which has
almost three y e a r s '
policy,
it,
CONCLUSION
c o n t i n u o u s work r e v i s i n g B r i t a i n ' s
f o r m u l a t i n g t h e r o l e of m i l i t a r y f o r c e t o
The d e c i s i o n s h a v e b e e n r e a c h e d a f t e r
c o n s u l t a t i o n s w i t h our a l l i e s ,
taken fully
into account.
extensive
They s p r i n g from t h e b e s t
!
i n t e r e s t s and r e s p o n s i - ­
and of t h e c h a n g i n g w o r l d i n w h i c h t h e y w i l l be
p r o t e c t e d or
U-0.
this
and t h e i r v i e w s h a v e b e e n
a s s e s s m e n t we c a n make of 3 r i t a i n s
bilities,
overseas
support
and p l a n n i n g t h e f o r c e s r e q u i r e d t o c a r r y o u t
role.
required
exercised.
S u b s t a n t i a l s a v i n g s w i l l b e made i n t h e manpower and
f i n a n c i a l resources required for defence.
.Ve p l a n no
m a j o r c h a n g e i n t h e s i z e of o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o NATO,
a l t h o u g h a h i g h e r p r o p o r t i o n of o u r f o r c e s may i n
be s t a t i o n e d in t h i s country.
o b t a i n e d from a s i g n i f i c a n t
future
The s a v i n g s w i l l be
r e d u c t i o n i n our
chiefly
military
p r e s e n c e o u t s i d e E u r o p e , and i n some c h a n g e s i n t h e way i n
w h i c h we s h a l l be a b l e t o d e p l o y o u r m i l i t a r y
outside Europe.
We b e l i e v e t h a t o u r a l l i e s
capability
appreciate
that
we a r e d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o e s t a b l i s h o u r p l a n s on
a n e c o n o m i c b a s i s t h a t we c a n s u s t a i n .
They a l s o
t h e v a l u e of t h e c o n t i n u i n g though, r e d u c e d
recognise
contribution
w h i c h -we s h a l l b e nrlang t o t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of p e a c e ,
hi.
The S e r v i c e s w i l l s t i l l h a v e a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e
t o p l a y i n s u p p o r t of B r i t a i n ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y .
role
The
Government i s s u r e t h a t t h e Royal Navy, Army and R o y a l A i r
Force,
t h o u g h s m a l l e r i n s i z e , w i l l be c a p a b l e of
t h e demands t h a t may be made on t h e m .
Whatever
meeting
those
demands may p r o v e t o b e , we c a n be c e r t a i n t h a t t h e y
will
c o n t i n u e t o be e x a c t i n g i n o p e r a t i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l s k i l l
and t h a t they w i l l often a r i s e a t s h o r t n o t i c e ,
in the
as t h e y h a v e
past.
A2.
­
...
42.
More o f our f o r c e s w i l l be b a s e d i n B r i t a i n ;
s e r v i c e m e n s h o u l d s e e more of t h e i r f a m i l i e s . .
and
The
o p e r a t i o n a l t a s k s t o be done o u t s i d e B r i t a i n w i l l
a s h i g h a s t a n d a r d of o p e r a t i o n a l r o a d i n e s s and
a s t h o s e of t o d a y .
The S e r v i c e s which we s h a l l
require
training
maintain
w i l l be of a q u a l i t y of w h i c h t h e men and women who
s e r v e i n them, a n d t h e c o u n t r y a s a w h o l e , c a n be p r o u d .
- 18
ANNEX TO JULY MITE,.PAPER
Redundancy P a y m e n t s
1o
In accordance with e s t a b l i s h e d p r a c t i c e ,
officers
and men whose c a r e e r s a r e p r e m a t u r e l y t e r m i n a t e d
ho e n t i t l e d t o c o m p e n s a t i o n ;
of t h e c u r t a i l m e n t of
their expected Service
t h e i r l o s s of p r o s p e c t s ,
account
careers,
t h e h i g h e r r a t e s of p e n s i o n
a c c r u i n g from l o n g e r s e r v i c e ,
difficulties
t h i s w i l l take
will
and a l s o t h e
additional
which t h e y may e x p e r i e n c e i n s t a r t i n g ­
new c a r e e r s i n c i v i l i a n
life.
Officers
2.
For o f f i c e r s
s e r v i n g on p e r m a n e n t c o m m i s s i o n s who
are permaturely r e t i r e d ,
compensation w i l l he in
form of a lump-sura payment w h i c h ,
t o meet a l l
the
the
f a c t o r s mentioned in the p r e c e d i n g paragraph,
will
r e a c h a t t h e maximum t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 21 m o n t h s '
b a s i c pay ( i c e x c l u d i n g a d d i t i o n a l p a y , m a r r i a g e
ration
3.
and
allowance).
Payments w i l l r e a c h t h i s l e v e l when t h e
h a s g i v e n 13 y e a r s '
officer
q u a l i f y i n g s e r v i c e and w i l l
d e c r e a s e when t h e o f f i c e r h a s l e s s t h a n 5 y e a r s '
s e r v i c e to complete b e f o r e h i s expected
retirement
date.
U,
Payments w i l l b e b a s e d on t h e p a y i n i s s u e
t h e r a n k h e l d on r e l i n q u i s h m e n t of l a s t
w h e t h e r t h i s b e a c t i n g , t e m p o r a r y or
for
appointment,
substantive.
-
5.
2
­
Normal r e t i r e m e n t b e n e f i t s w i l l n o t b e
affected,
e x c e p t t h a t t h e n o r m a l r e q u i r e m e n t of 2 y e a r s '
in the s u b s t a n t i v e rank w i l l be waived.
officers
service
Those
who would n o t n o r m a l l y q u a l i f y f o r
retired
pay on c o m p u l s o r y r e t i r e m e n t , b e c a u s e t h e y h a v e
less
t h a n 16 y e a r s ' r e e k o n a b l e s e r v i c e , w i l l b e
granted
r e t i r e d pay as i f
provided
t h e y had b e e n i n v a l i d e d ,
t h a t t h e y h a v e g i v e n a t l e a s t 10 y e a r s '
qualifying
service.
6.
S p e c i a l arrangements w i l l apply to
categories
of o f f i c e r s
certain
s e r v i n g on n o n - p e r m a n e n t
commissions.
Ratings
7.
8
Soldi^s^jincl^Alrja^n
The f u l l
s c a l e of c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r
ratings,
s o l d i e r s and a i r m e n s e r v i n g on p e n s i o n a b l e
mcnts h a s b e e n b a s e d on t h e same g e n e r a l
t i o n s as f o r o f f i c e r s ;
but,
owing to t h e
engage­
considera­
difference
i n t h e i r e n g a g e m e n t and p e n s i o n t e r m s , t h e scheme
f o r o t h e r r a n k s h a s b e e n d e v i s e d on d i f f e r e n t
i n o r d e r t o m i t i g a t e t h e l o s s of e n t i t l e m e n t
p e n s i o n which t h e y would o t h e r w i s e s u f f e r
lines
to
on p r e m a t u r e
retirement.
8.
The main f e a t u r e s
a.
of t h e scheme a r c
The minimum p e r i o d of q u a l i f y i n g
that"
service
f o r p e n s i o n h a s b e e n r e d u c e d from 22 y e a r s
10 y e a r s ( a f t e r
t h e age of
to
18).
/b.
b.
For t h e p u r p o s e of c a l c u l a t i n g
pension
and t e r m i n a l g r a n t f o r t h o s e who have
served
a t l e a s t 10 y e a r s , a n a d d i t i o n a l c r e d i t
up t o U. y e a r s ' s e r v i c e w i l l be g i v e n ,
t h a t t h i s a d d i t i o n does not extend
9.
engagement.
In addition,
provided
their
r e c k o n a b l e s e r v i c e b e y o n d t h e end of
current
of
the o t h e r r a n k s w i t h 10 y e a r s '
qualifying
s e r v i c e w i l l r e c e i v e lump-sum p a y m e n t s r i s i n g t o a
maximum of 12 m o n t h s ' b a s i c pay ( i e e x c l u d i n g
additional
p a y , m a r r i a g e and r a t i o n a l l o w a n c e ) a f t e r 16 y e a r s '
qualifying s e r v i c e , but decreasing for those with
than 5 years
t o c o m p l e t e on c u r r e n t
less
engagement.
Those men w i t h 3 or more, b u t l e s s t h a n 10 y e a r s '
c o m p l e t e d s e r v i c e from age 18,who w i l l n o t be
f o r p e n s i o n and t e r m i n a l g r a n t ,
eligible
will receive a gratuity
on i n v a l i d i n g t e r m s , p l u s a lump sum r a n g i n g from
3 t o l h months' b a s i c
10.
pay.
Special arrangements will a p p l y , t o
certain
c a t e g o r i e s of o t h e r r a n k s s e r v i n g on n o n - p e n s i o n a b l e
engagements.