§ 8. Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Defence what effect the fall in Regular recruiting as disclosed by the latest published figures will have on the Government's timetable for the ending of National Service; and what steps the Government proposes to take to arrest the fall.
§ Mr. SandysThe Answer to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir." As regards the second part, the Government are preparing measures to improve Service conditions and prospects.
§ Mr. BrownSince the rate of recruiting is now so much below what it was before the White Paper announcement, and certainly below what it was two or three years ago, can the Minister really adhere to the view that if it goes on falling at this rate it will have no effect on his timetable for ending National Service? Surely it must.
Secondly, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman when he expects to be able to tell us what steps he is taking not only to arrest the fall but to reverse the trend? Otherwise, surely we shall be left, at a stage when National Service goes, with no forces at all. Is the right hon. Gentleman taking this matter as seriously as he ought?
May I also ask a question on mechanics? Could we have the monthly figures, which come out a long way behind, made available in the Vote Office? They are not there at the moment. They are only in the Library from where one cannot take them away to use. Could the right hon. Gentleman arrange for the monthly figures to be published as quickly as possible and made available in the Vote Office?
§ Mr. SandysI was not aware of that last difficulty. I will see if the matter can be dealt with as the right hon. Gentleman suggests.
I hope that the fall-off in recruitment at present is only temporary and that when the uncertainties, which were inevitable as a result of the major changes in defence policy, are removed, the trend will improve again.