HC Deb 21 January 1947 vol 432 cc22-4
38 and 39. Lieut.-Colonel Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many men have joined the Army on short-term engagements during each month since the announcement on 15th April, 1946;

(2) how many men have joined the Army on Regular engagements during each month since the publication of Cmd. No. 6715.

Mr. Bellenger

As the answer is in tabular form, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Lieut.-Colonel Corbett

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the opportunity to enlist on short term engagements has had an adverse effect on recruiting into the Regular Army?

Mr. Bellenger

I think I would like to give more consideration to that question, because I do not think it arises out of this Question, which asks for statistics.

Following is the answer:

REGULAR ARMY RECRUITING—OTHER RANKS ONLY 1946.
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total Jan.-Dec. 1946
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)
(A) NORMAL REGULAR ENGAGEMENTS.
(i) Civilians (men and boys) with no previous service — — — 1453 1245 1402 1480 1554 1797 2083 2205 2610
(ii) Soldiers already released re-enlisted for a normal Regular engagement — — — 16 42 66 130 202 284 329 230 18l
(iii) Total* 877 1252 1651 1469 1187 1408 1610 1736 2081 2412 2435 2791 21089
(iv) Non-Regular serving soldiers converted to a normal Regular engagement 115 133 149 136 148 137 211 194 225 379 190 231 2248
Total normal Regulars 992 1385 1800 1609 1435 1605 1821 1950 2306 2791 2025 3022 23337
(B) SHORT SERVICE (3 or 4 years)
(i) Soldiers already Released/Discharged — — — — 471 693 471 598 630 1342 1371 1255 6835
(ii) Soldiers already serving converted — — — — 26 107 110, 120 216 465 652 396 2098
Total short service Regulars — — — — 497 800 587 713 855 1807 2025 1051 8933
* Separate figures under (A) (i) and (ii) not available for January, February and March, 1946.