§ 33. Mr. A. R. W. Lowasked the Secretary of State for War how many other ranks, showing non-commissioned officers and warrant officers separately, completed their regular engagements in 1948 and in the first half of 1949, respectively; and of those how many have re-engaged.
§ Mr. M. StewartDuring 1948, 4,386 other ranks completed their original period of Colour service and 1,404 extended their service to complete 12 years' 1953 Colour service. In the same year, 568 other ranks completed 12 years' Colour service and 2,230 re-engaged to complete 22 years' service. I should explain that as a soldier can extend his Colour service or re-engage at varying periods before his service is due to end, I cannot say how many of the 4,386 and 568 to whom I have referred actually extended or re-engaged respectively. The comparable figures for the first quarter of 1949 are 761 and 292, and 178 and 662, respectively. Separate figures for warrant officers and non-commissioned officers are not available.
§ Mr. LowDo not the figures just given show that only about one-third of the non-commissioned officers and warrant officers, on whom the Regular Army must rely for its efficiency, have chosen to reengage? Is not this a very disquieting situation?
§ Mr. StewartFor the reason which I have given, that conclusion cannot be drawn from the figures.
§ 34. Mr. Lowasked the Secretary of State for War how many other ranks, showing existing non-commissioned officers and warrant officers separately, will complete their regular engagements in the years 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively.
§ Mr. M. StewartIt would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in this Question.
§ Mr. LowWas not similar information given at least one year ahead by the hon. Gentleman's colleague the Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty the other day?
§ Mr. StewartYes, but the terms of engagement are different there and, consequently, the security problem is not the same.