54 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which he has met the Army Wives' Association, NASA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In July 1989 the Government established an independent commission to carry out a major review of the remuneration and conditions of service of the Defence Forces. The commission's report, which was presented to the Government recently, indicates that a submission was made to the commission by the National Army Spouses' Association. Following the enactment of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990, discussions have been in progress to establish representative associations for members of the Defence Forces as well as a scheme of conciliation and arbitration to which they will have access in relation to a wide spectrum of matters affecting remuneration and certain conditions of service. These arrangements will provide an agreed forum with a statutory basis for dealing with such matters.