HC Deb 12 March 1958 vol 584 cc395-6
2. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for War why a Scottish regiment is to carry out a recruiting march in Cumberland on 17th and 18th March.

Mr. Soames

The regiment is the Scots Guards which, like the rest of the Brigade of Guards, draws its recruits from many parts of the United Kingdom. Scots Guards recruiting marches in Cumberland have been a regular feature since the end of the war. They are well known to the county and the march will be made with the full co-operation of the Border Regiment. The benefits of these marches are not confined to the regiment concerned. They bring forward recruits for the Army as a whole.

Mr. Vane

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the county values the cooperation between the Border Regiment, the Scots Guards and other regiments which seem to adopt Cumberland as their second home and that nobody wants to disturb the recruiting organisation in Carlisle, which has done a lot of good for the whole Army and not least in attracting a number of recruits from the southward-moving stream of Scotsmen? On the other hand, operations on the scale of large Border raids seem to fall into a different category. If my right hon. Friend feels that I am exaggerating, will he look at the map and refresh his mind as to where the Border between England and Scotland runs?

Mr. Soames

I can confirm that the relationship between the Scots Guards and the Border Regiment is both very satisfactory and of long standing. In fact, at the invitation of the Border Regiment, the Scots Guards have a recruiting sergeant in the depot of that regiment.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Minister aware that the probable reason for this is that, judging by the latest recruiting figures, the Scots Guards cannot collect soldiers in Scotland and are going across the Border to see whether they can get some stupid Englishmen?

Mr. Soames

No, Sir. That is not so.

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