§ 16. Mr. Mathewasked the Secretary of State for War what active steps are now being taken to encourage a continuing flow of volunteer recruits to the Territorial Army.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Hare)With the decision to abolish National Service in 1960, the Territorial Army will once again be the entirely volunteer organisation which it was before the war, and we hope that many young men and women will come forward. Meanwhile, we are devoting part of our normal recruiting resources to the Territorial Army and taking steps to secure the active co-operation of employers and the T. U. C. As in the past, we shall rely a great deal upon local good will and the recruiting activities of the units themselves.
§ Mr. MathewIs my right hon. Friend aware that this reply will be received with great satisfaction by all ranks in the Territorial Army, and will he give an assurance that there will be a real and 195 really imaginative intensification of the recruiting campaign, now that the National Service entry is coming to an end?
§ Mr. HareI thank my hon. Friend for what he has just said. I shall certainly never be complacent about the measures that we are taking to increase recruiting either for the Regular Army or for the Territorial Army. I can assure him that I shall do all I can to assist recruiting in both of these directions.
§ Sir L. RopnerIs my right hon. Friend aware that his Answer will not be received with any satisfaction by those who are interested in the Territorial Army? Is it not about time that it was made clear, if such is the case, that those in the Territorial Army will be employed as soldiers, and not in a civil capacity?
§ Mr. HareI am sorry that my hon. and gallant Friend has said that. I think that I have made it absolutely clear—perhaps he did not hear my speech in the debate on the Army Estimates—that the Territorial Army is to be kept as a fighting force, and I have great confidence that it will carry out its duties with great success.
§ 17. Mr. Mathewasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider making arrangements whereby all volunteer recruits to the Territorial Army, who sign on for a minimum period of four years' service as Territorials, will be exempted from National Service until further notice.
§ Mr. John HareNo, Sir. This would not help us to achieve our aim of a Territorial Army made up wholly of volunteers.
§ Mr. MathewWill not my right hon. Friend re-examine this proposal in order to encourage a steady flow of volunteers: and discuss the matter with the Minister of Labour?
§ Mr. HareI will certainly look at my hon. Friend's suggestion, but my own reaction is that if we want an all-volunteer Territorial Army it would be a mistake to have in it people who, as second choice to avoid National Service, had decided to do four years in the Territorials.
§ Mr. NairnBefore turning down this suggestion entirely, will my right hon. 196 Friend call to mind the considerable difficulties that we had in the Territorial Army in the 'thirties in getting sufficient recruits, and that with the further flow of National Service suddenly stopping it will take a great deal to re-introduce the voluntary spirit?
§ Mr. HareI have said that I would be only too pleased to look at this suggestion, but I thought it only fair to my hon. Friend and to the House to give my first reactions.
§ Sir L. RopnerCan my right hon. Friend say whether there has recently been any improvement in recruiting for the Territorial Army?
§ Mr. HareYes. Although I have not got the actual figures, I am glad to say that I have been given to understand that in the last week or so there has been some improvement.