§ 8. Sir I. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for War to make a statement on the progress of recruiting for the Regular Army and the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. HeadDuring the first 10 months of this year, 42,615 men undertook Regular engagements with the Active Army compared with 18,951 during the corresponding months of 1951. The figures for recruitment into the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and the Women's Royal Army Corps are 2,821 this year and 1,921 last year. In the same period this year voluntary enlistments by men into the Territorial 1260 Army numbered 27,208 compared with 22,271 in the corresponding months of 1951.
§ Sir I. FraserWhile congratulating the Minister on these figures, may I ask him if it is consequential upon them that the Z Reserve need not be called up next year?
§ Mr. HeadNo, Sir. The decision about the Z Reserve, which is the subject of a later Question, was not entirely consequential on this.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn view of the increase in the number of recruits to the Regular Forces, will the right hon. Gentleman now consider whether it is not possible to effect some relaxation in the National Service position?
§ Mr. HeadThese figures show a rate of Regular recruiting which, if maintained, will result in a reduction in manpower in the whole of the Army during the next two or three years of about 15,000 men. I do not believe that the prospects of increasing recruiting still further are very good.
§ Mr. CarmichaelCan the Minister tell us in what parts of the country the recruiting drive has been most successful?
§ Mr. HeadWe publish periodically area recruiting figures and unit recruiting figures. I could not, without notice, give exactly details to show where recruiting has been most successful; but the figures show that where depots take the most trouble and ask the parents to visit them then the recruits come forward in the best numbers.