§ 1. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for War if recruiting for the Royal Army Service Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal' Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and other Service Corps has been proceeding at the same rate as recruiting for the infantry, artillery and armoured units.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Christopher Soames)No, Sir. Only the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are keeping up with the teeth arms. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement on this subject in paragraphs 61 and 62 of the White Paper on Defend (Cmnd. 363).
§ Mr. HallDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the unsatisfactory recruiting figures for the Service Corps may be due to the fact that they appear to lack the glamour of the fighting arms of the Service? In his recruiting publicity, will my right hon. Friend draw attention to two points: first, that the most intelligent men are required for the Service Corps, because they are expected to train both as fighting soldiers and as tradesmen; and secondly, that the trade they learn while in the Army will stand them in very good stead when they leave to take up civilian jobs? If these two appeals are unsuccessful, will my right hon. Friend consider reintroducing corps pay?
§ Mr. SoamesIt is, of course, too early yet to be able to know the success of the appeals, but I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.