Orders of the Day — The Army

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 6 May 1976.

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Photo of Mr Tam Dalyell Mr Tam Dalyell , West Lothian 12:00, 6 May 1976

In that case we had better get away from the idea of a separate force. The hon. Member cannot have it both ways. If we are to share these facilities we must keep the British Services intact. Once again the hon. Member is trying to have his cake and eat it.

In the paper that the Department is to produce there must be some exposition of the cost of separation. There must be a separate cost analysis of what the SNP proposes. I do not want to weary the House with the effect of a separate Scottish army, but the effect of the commitment in Ireland would have to be discussed.

There is another question which concerns disentangling Service pensions. If I were a retired NCO or officer in Argyll—and there are quite a number of those—I would want to know what guarantee there would be of my pension rights in the British Army.