HC Deb 08 April 1970 vol 799 cc524-5
10. Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on recruitment for the Ulster Defence Regiment and the disbanding of the Ulster B Specials.

Mr. Hattersley

As at 3rd April, 5,393 applications to enrol in the Ulster Defence Regiment had been received. So far, 1,800 applicants had been enrolled and a further 1,001 had been accepted for enrolment. As regards the disbanding of the Ulster B Specials, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question on 4th March.—[Vol. 797, c. 401–2.]

Mr. McNamara

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that we are securing the proper balance in the force which was indicated in the debate when the regiment was first introduced? Second, is he aware that many people support some of the statements which he made in Ulster about the desire and need to maintain a well-balanced force of this nature?

Mr. Hattersley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he said in the second part of his supplementary question. We are obtaining Catholic recruitment—the point which my hon. Friend has in mind, I think—at about 20 per cent., which is better than I expected and, therefore, a great deal better than some of my hon. Friends feared. How-ever, 20 per cent. is not an ideal figure. I hope that more Catholics will come forward to join the regiment, and I hope that the leaders of the Catholic community will continue to encourage them to do so.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the speed or rate of enrolment as opposed to the speed of recruitment?

Mr. Hattersley

The distinction between speed of recruitment and speed of enrolment involves the processes through which each applicant must go between offering himself for service in the regiment and being accepted. The period between the two is almost entirely taken up by security vetting and the medical check. I am sure that these processes are vital and that we should not skimp them.