§ 17. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Secretary of State for War to give an estimate of the number of Regular soldiers required to enable compulsory service to be abolished and to reduce the period of National Service by six months.
§ Mr. HeadThe total abolition of National Service would require an addition of some 175,000 Regulars, including nearly 5,000 officers, over and above the present numbers. The reduction of the period of full-time National Service by six months would require an increase of about 50,000 Regulars.
§ Mr. ChetwyndDoes he right hon. Gentleman not think it more desirable now that he should refer to his previous argument and try and get those people rather than insist that this two-year period is essential?
§ Mr. HeadI am, and I always have been, in favour of increasing Regular recruiting, which has doubled, but I personally believe that to increase it to this extent is not within the bounds of possibility at present.
§ Mr. ShinwellCannot the right hon. Gentleman remember what he said when he was on this side of the House, namely, that if we were to step up Regular recruitment, six months compulsory service would be adequate? Why does he not 219 do precisely what he asked the Labour Government to do, that is increase the rate of pay?
§ Mr. HeadThe answer to that is very simple. When I made those remarks it was before Korea, when our overseas commitments were very small. Secondly, I would remind hon. Members that right hon. Gentlemen opposite deferred putting up the pay until it was two years too late. Had they done it earlier they would have avoided a big run-out.