HC Deb 31 January 1952 vol 495 cc368-70
Mr. Head

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a statement.

It has been decided that an additional seven new infantry battalions will be raised in this country. The following regiments will now have a second battalion:

  • The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment).
  • The Lancashire Fusiliers.
  • The Royal Welch Fusiliers.
  • The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
  • The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment).
  • The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment).
  • The Durham Light Infantry.
These battalions will form during the spring and summer of this year.

I would point out to the House that this considerable increase to the Army's fighting strength can only be achieved within the present manpower ceiling by the most stringent economy in administrative units, headquarters, etc. Certain steps to this effect will shortly be taken and I shall give the House further particulars of them when the Army Estimates are introduced.

Mr. John Strachey

Can the Secretary of State for War tell us whether these are the first fruits of the economies on manpower recommended by the Templer Committee?

Mr. Head

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's question and its point. The activities of the Templer Committee have been very considerably extended both to administrative units, headquarters and others. Although I should like to pay a tribute to General Templer's work, I think that his original savings have been, or will be, increased about four or five-fold.

Mr. E. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of the manpower in these battalions will be National Service men, and what proportion Regulars; and will he take into account the fact that the intake from National Service is bound to be lower this year than in recent years?

Mr. Head

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are only too well aware that the future position as regards National Service is not an easy one. It will be our endeavour to get this proportion as high as we can, but it will not, I am afraid, reach one for one. In the future, it will, of course, to some extent, be determined by the efforts we are now making in regard to stimulating Regular recruiting.

Mr. F. J. Bellenger

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he has singled out these regiments, particularly as he is to draft National Service men to these second battalions, because, obviously, there are many other regiments in the Army which want similar treatment?

Mr. Head

Yes, Sir, I appreciate that. It might be said that there would be an argument for creating second battalions for the seven most senior regiments in the British Army. That, in fact, was not done, and these battalions were selected as those with the highest proportion of Regular recruits within them. I think there is much to be said for it, from the administrative point of view, and secondly, as an encouragement to those battalions which have been most successful in Regular recruiting.

Colonel Alan Gomme-Duncan

Is it not a fact that this has been based upon the eagerness of men to join these particular regiments, which are, therefore, the most likely to get these second battalions, and is not the Black Watch the most popular of all?

Mr. Head

I will agree with my hon. and gallant Friend in his regard for the Black Watch. This is a recognition of the seven most successful Regular battalions in regard to Regular recruiting, which all want to stimulate.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have letters from soldiers in the Black Watch who want to re-enlist in the mining industry?

Mr. Head

The hon. Gentleman has never been a very good friend of the British Army, but I am sure that even he is pleased that we are able to extend our fighting strength and reduce our administrative strength.