asked the Secretary of State for Defence the average length of tour of major units of the Army in the British Army of the Rhine.

About three years for infantry battalions; rather longer for armoured and artillery units.

Is not this a somewhat excessive length of time bearing in mind that units in Germany have a rather dull time compared with the more exciting tours further overseas?

With about one-third of the Army in Germany it is bound to work out something like that.

When Army men are sent on these long tours, why are they forced to separate from their wives? Why is not provision made to enable their wives to accompany them, as in the case of which my hon. Friend must be aware because I have written to him about it?

It is usually possible to provide accommodation for families in B.A.O.R., although quite often there is a waiting period before a family can join a serving soldier.