HC Deb 05 November 1947 vol 443 cc1832-4
52. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the Minister of Defence how much training time each year will be devoted to bringing those members of the Regular Forces, who will be engaged in training the National Service intakes under the 1947 Act, to a sufficiently high standard of training themselves to enable the Regular Forces to be at an adequate state of readiness.

Mr. Alexander

The arrangements vary according to the methods of training in the different Services. In the Royal Navy, the normal system of drafting instructors to sea at regular intervals will be observed. In the Army, National Service men and Regulars will train together in the same units; the latter will attend specialist courses as necessary. In the Royal Air Force, the duties required of the training staff are often in themselves sufficient to keep the men up-to-date, though flying instructors generally take a course at an operational conversion unit when leaving instructional work for operational duties.

Major Legge-Bourke

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that, so far as the Regular Forces are concerned, instructional courses are not the same thing as operational exercises, and that it is absolutely essential that the Regular Forces should be given proper exercises?

Mr. Alexander

I fully recognise that, but I am sure the hon. and gallant Gentleman will know that we cannot debate matters of that kind at Question time, and I hope that he will raise the points in which he is interested on the Estimates.

53. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the Minister of Defence how many days of formation training will be devoted each year to the exercise of the Regular Forces when the National Service Act, 1947, comes into force; on what basis this formation training will be for each of the three Services; and if these exercises will also involve the National Service intakes.

Mr. Alexander

In the Royal Navy the fleet training policy will remain unchanged. National Service men will take part in Fleet exercises and other training to the same extent as Regulars. In the Army, formation training will, in general, follow the prewar arrangements, except that no specific period of the year will be allotted; collective training exercises will be held periodically throughout the year. In the Army at home and in Europe, units will consist of both Regulars and National Service men, all of whom will take part in the exercises. In the Royal Air Force, all operational units do the maximum amount of operational training possible, depending on the strength of their ground staff and the state of training of the flying personnel. National Service men will often take part as ground staff, but not as flying personnel, as they will not be able to reach the stage of training necessary.

Major Legge-Bourke

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that no greater mistake can be made than to make young recruits try to run before they can walk, and that, if extensive operational exercises are to take place with those who have been called up for less than a year, all that will happen is that the training of the old regular soldier and other members of the Forces will suffer?

Mr. Alexander

I think there is a great deal in that, and I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that, in drawing up the programme, senior officers are bearing it in mind.

Mr. Swingler

Will my right hon. Friend say what ratio he presupposes between the numbers of Regulars and the numbers of National Service men in order to carry out this programme?

Mr. Alexander

I think, perhaps, that I ought to have notice of that question; it is a matter which will fall to be debated on the White Paper and on the Estimates.