§ 43. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on the up-to-date recruiting figures for the Armed Forces; and what success is being achieved in the various efforts to obtain the necessary manpower and the ending of conscription.
§ 44. Mr. Mathewasked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of voluntary recruiting for the three Services, expressed in terms of numbers and man years.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. Duncan Sandys)The recent trend in regular recruiting is encouraging. In April there were about 5,000 recruits compared with about 3,800 in April last year. The Army figure was particularly good—nearly 3,000 against about 2,400 last year, with a far larger proportion entering on long service engagements. Recruiting for the three Services in April, 1958, represents about 31,000 man-years, as compared with about 17,000 for April, 1957.
§ Mr. DoddsWill the right hon. Gentleman state what influence these figures will have, if maintained, on conscription? Is he aware that many people take a dim 1113 view of his ten-to-one offer that conscription will end in 1962, particularly when, some months previously, 1960 had been the year in which it was suggested that it would end? What has gone wrong?
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Gentleman should take the trouble to look up his facts before he asks a supplementary question of that kind. He knows perfectly well that the Government's plan is to end the call-up in 1960, which means that National Service would end in 1962. As for the odds, when I see the May figures I shall be prepared to consider offering an improvement.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many people and most of us, if not all of us, would like to encourage him in his efforts to put an end to the call-up?
§ Mr. SandysI much appreciate the support which I constantly receive from the right hon. Gentleman in his patriotic approach to all matters concerning national defence.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhy must the right hon. Gentleman go and spoil it?