VOTE A. ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF LAND FORCES (Hansard, 6 February 1951)

§ The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Michael Stewart)
It may be for the convenience of the Committee if I explain how this figure of 55,000 arises. The original estimate was for 467,000 which covered the number in the Army in April, 1950. In fact, the number by next April would have been, but for certain measures with which the House is familiar, 449,000—that is to say, 18,000 within the original estimate.
The Committee will remember the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 12th September last 1652 which referred to the extension of National Service, to the recall of a certain number of Reservists and to the retention with the Forces of Regular soldiers. The increase of National Service has had the effect of increasing the number of National Service men in the Army during the latter part of this financial year by 55,300. The recall of reservists has added another 5,000, and the retention with the Colours of Regular soldiers whose service would otherwise have come to an end has added 12,700.
That gives us, from these three sources, a total of 73,000 more men in the Army. As I have already explained, we should, apart from these measures, have been 18,000 within the original estimate. We are, therefore, now going to be 55,000 above it. That is why the Committee is now asked to sanction this increase of 55,000 on Vote A. The Committee will appreciate that the reasons of policy which have lead to this increase have already been before the House where they were fully discussed and approved.

§ Brigadier Head (Carshalton)
I am not clear. Is it intended to take the Votes one by one?

§ Mr. Stewart
I assumed that we were taking Vote A now and that the money Votes would be taken together later.

§ The Deputy-Chairman
Yes.

§ Brigadier Head
As far as Vote A is concerned, I think I can speak for all hon. Members on this side of the Committee when I say that we have no other feeling than one of welcome for this increased number in the Forces. This is the one thing we have been urging on the Government for the last four years. Now that we have an increase I do not think any hon. Member on this side of the Committee would either grudge the expenditure or do anything but welcome these large amounts.

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes
I am obliged to the Minister for being more communicative than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty. Some of the figures he gave make me wonder. When we voted for increasing the pay of the Army we understood that there would be a great influx of recruits as a result. I should like to ask if the total figure of recruits up to now is 55,300. Is that all?

§ Mr. Stewart
I do not think the hon. Gentleman has fully understood what I said. The figure of 55,300 is the increased number of National Service men as the result of extending the period of service from 18 months to two years. I cannot quote figures showing the extent to which recruiting has increased since the increased pay was announced, but, after that, the rate of recruitment rose very rapidly indeed. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the size of the Army at any one time is affected by the rate at which the men's contracts of service expire.
The total figure of men in the Army is like the height of water in a bath. The rate of recruiting is the rate at which the tap allows the water to flow in. A substantial increase in that inflow followed the announcement of the increases in pay, but it cannot, in this comparatively short period, show anything like a great increase in the total number of men in the Army. Consequently, that is not really under discussion on this Vote at all.

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes
All I want to know is this. Cannot we get some definite information as to how many recruits have been obtained as a result of giving increases in pay. To tell me about the water in the bath does not give me any information at all. What I should like to know is whether the War Office has any idea at all how many recruits were obtained as the result of the increases in pay.

§ Mr. Stewart
I am not quite sure that that is really relevant to the Vote, but, if the hon. Gentleman is anxious, I can tell him these monthly averages for Regular recruiting. For the months from January to August last, the average monthly figure was 1,619, and, for the months from September to December, the average figure was 3,085.