HC Deb 15 November 1955 vol 546 cc181-3
16. Mr. Wigg

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men who enlisted on Regular engagements of three years with the Colours and four years with the Reserve during the period 1st April, 1952, to 30th September, 1952; the number of such men transferred to the Army Reserve during the period 1st April, 1955, to 30th September, 1955; and the percentage who prolonged their Colour service.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Antony Head)

Some 21,065 men enlisted during the period in question, 17,600 were transferred to the Reserve, 2,562 ended their engagement prematurely or were retained and 903 prolonged their service. In the same period, 2,580 enlisted on the three-years-at-a-time or 22-year engagement, of whom 682 have elected to continue serving. The former continuance figure is 4.3 per cent., the latter 16.4 per cent. and the overall figure 7 per cent.

Mr. Wigg

Does the Secretary of State for War now admit that his policy of a three-year engagement, based on the hope that 33⅓ per cent. of these men would prolong their service, is now a lamentable failure, and that the consequence is that conscription is tied to this country for at least another generation?

Mr. Head

I believe, in common with, I think, most responsible hon. Members on the Opposition side of the House, that that was the correct step to take at the time. The only alternative which I have heard from the hon. Member would have meant that the strength of the Regular Army would today be about 50,000 down, which would mean that we could not meet our commitments.

Mr. Wigg

At what stage of the operation does the right hon. Gentleman want to associate my hon. or right hon. Friends with him? Earlier, he claimed credit for himself. Now, he is dodging the consequences of his action.

Mr. Head

I should like to tell the hon. Member, who makes these highly tendentious remarks, that that is quite untrue. The then hon. Member for Aston rose and said that the credit rightly belonged to the other side of the House. I never asked for any credit.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not true to say—and why is the Secretary of State not frank with the House—that his forecast was far too optimistic?

Mr. Head

I made no forecast. A quite unfounded allegation has been attributed to me by the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg). I stated that the actuarial figure on which we would retain our structure in the Regular Forces was 33⅓ per cent. I never forecast that we should get it—never.

Mr. Wigg

The right hon. Gentleman has charged me with making an unfounded allegation. If he would be kind enough to refer to his own speech—

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order. I thought that the hon. Member was rising to give notice that he would raise the matter on the Adjournment.

41. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War how the wastage of Regular officers and other ranks compares with the intake of Regular officers and recruits during the past four years; and the average length of engagement entered into by recruits.

Mr. Head

The figures of intake and run-out are rather complicated and I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Bellenger

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, but could he say whether the figures will show an adverse balance for the Army?

Mr. Head

The right hon. Gentleman will find that the wastage of officers is about two-thirds of intake. That is a good figure. In the case of other ranks it was smaller, but now, with the run-out of the three-year men, it is becoming larger than the recruitment. That is roughly the picture.

Mr. Bellenger

Does it not seem, from what the right hon. Gentleman has said, that the Army is gradually running down in respect of Regulars? If that be so, has the right hon. Gentleman any proposals to make to rectify the situation?

Mr. Head

Yes, Sir, but I think that the right hon. Gentleman had better await the Estimates.

Following are the figures:

— Officers Other ranks
Commissioned Run-out Enlisted Run-out
1952 … 1,285 910 49,389 30,159
1953 … 1,241 761 39,139 37,306
1954 … 1,102 818 35,575 20,498
1955 (January to September) … 859 653 25,592 41,940

42. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Regular officers and other ranks have applied to resign or for discharge during each of the past four years.

Mr. Head

I will, with permission, circulate details of applications by Regular

APPLICATIONS TO RETIRE FROM BOTH REGULAR AND SHORT-SERVICE OFFICERS
Year
1952 (from 1st September only) … … … 240
1953 … … … 593
1954 … … … 647
1955 (to 30th September only) … … … 624
APPLICATIONS FOR DISCHARGE, ETC. BY REGULAR OTHER RANKS
Year Inter-Service transfers Discharge by purchase Free after 16 years but before end of engagement Free on compassionate grounds
1952 19 397 362 Before 1953 discharge by purchase was severely restricted because of the Korean war.
1953 14 734 452
1954 2 1,810 276 290
1955 (to 30th September only) 5 1,040 244 168