14. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Defence how many men between 18 and 30 years of age, previously employed as miners in Scotland, have joined the Armed Forces in each of the last three years, and in the first five months of 1960; and what proportion the Scottish figure represents of the total recruitment from the mines for Great Britain as a whole.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe only figures readily available in respect of the first part of the Question are those given in reply to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Pentland) on 11th May. They relate to enlistments of men from the coalmining industry as a whole between the ages of 18 and 25 up to 31st March, 1960, only. On this basis recruitment from the Scottish division represents 16.3 per cent., 14.7 per cent., 20.8 per cent. and 26.3 per cent., respectively, of total recruitment in each of the four periods concerned.
Mr. HamiltonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is an unduly high proportion of recruits from Scotland—largely because of unemployment there? If, as the Government hope, their unemployment policy is to succeed, will not these recruitment figures fall even further, so that the right hon. Gentleman will be in further difficulties with his recruiting policy? Although we all hope that unemployment will decline, what steps will the Minister take in that event to step up his recruiting?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not agree that this is an unduly high proportion, but I think that the hon. Member would agree at least that these very fine men are very welcome in Her Majesty's Forces and will be a very great addition to them.