asked the Minister for Defence the steps taken in regard to the reorganisation of the local defence forces, the reasons for this reorganisation and if he has satisfied himself with the present position.

A revision of the organisation of the Defence Forces as a whole provided for the separate development of the Permanent Defence Force and the FCA as combat and local defence forces respectively. The reorganisation was necessary in the light of changing conditions and roles in the interval since the previous general reorganisation was done in 1959.

The FCA are now organised on a Command basis with a special staff in each Command. Their role will be mainly local defence which will enable their units to provide military security in their own areas and, if circumstances so require, support for units of the Permanent Defence Force in these areas.

A new Directorate of Reserve Forces which has overall responsibility for the development of all the reserve elements, of which the FCA will be the largest component, has been established. This directorate will cater in a special way for the training of the FCA and other reserve elements. I am satisfied that the revised organisations which I have outlined will achieve this objective.

Will the Minister confirm that this is a reversion to the pre-1959 situation?

In so far as the original Local Defence Force, and the FCA in the early days, were regarded as a force that operated in their own area because they had a deep knowledge of the situation in that area, I would say yes to the Deputy's question.