HC Deb 02 November 1948 vol 457 cc663-4
25. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the recruitment figures for the Regular Army and Territorial Army in the month of September in 1947 and in 1948, respectively.

Mr. Shinwell

I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the information asked for.

Mr. Chetwynd

But is my right hon. Friend able to say in which areas of the country he is getting the best response and where the response is not so good?

Mr. Shinwell

If my hon. Friend refers to the Regular Army, the recruitment is very favourable, certainly in recent months. I cannot give the details. As regards the Territorial Army, there has been a substantial increase in the last month, although not as good as we should like, and in some parts of the country it is exceptionally good; for example, in the North it is rather better than in some parts of the South.

Following is the table:

Recruits for the Regular Army and the Territorial Army during September. 1947, and September. 1948.
September, 1947 September, 1948
Regular Army (male other ranks only recruited on normal and short service engagements) 3,635 3,559
Territorial Army (men and women of all ranks) 3,758 4,569

26. Major G. Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for War how many local authorities and trades councils have so far declined to assist in the recruiting campaign.

Mr. Shinwell

This information is not available in my Department.

Major Lloyd

That does not explain the fact that it is notorious, as has appeared repeatedly in the Press, that there have been public protests against several local authorities and trades councils; but are they not merely following the example of many Ministers of His Majesty's Government on the Front Bench right up to the beginning of the last war?

Mr. Shinwell

While I cannot give details of the number of councils which have declined to participate in the campaign, I gather that those which have declined are rather mixed politically, and some represent views other than those held by this side of the House.