HC Deb 26 November 1952 vol 508 cc446-7
37. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence whether it is the intention of the Government to increase the annual bounty from the present rate of £12 for men and women in the auxiliary branches of the forces where the requisite number of drills and attendance at annual camp are undertaken.

Mr. Birch

No change in the current rates of bounty in the Services is at present contemplated.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the Territorial Army has not increased at all in the last 12 months, and is it not desirable to make this service more attractive by offering better conditions, in particular a higher bounty?

Mr. Birch

Of course, it is very pleasant for everybody to have more money. The suggestion which the right hon. Gentleman made on the wireless is a very expensive one to implement, and I remind him of what he said in the House on the same subject a few years ago: I cannot convince myself that Territorial recruitment and interest in the Territorial Army is exclusively based on monetary considerations."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. 11th May, 1948; Vol. 450, c. 1949.]

Mr. Shinwell

Never mind what I said. I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary to address himself to the supplementary question that I put to him: namely, is he aware that the Territorial Army has not increased at all in the last 12 months? May I ask the hon. Gentleman to be good enough to say whether the Government will reconsider this matter in order to enable the Territorial force to be increased?

Mr. Birch

I am grateful to the Night hon. Gentleman for his suggestion, but I cannot give any guarantee that it will be done.