HC Deb 31 January 1962 vol 652 cc1067-8
4. Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent his recruiting drive for airmen has proved a success; and at what estimated cost.

Mr. Amery

The recruitment of airmen in 1961 was, on the whole, satisfactory, although there are some trades in which we should like to have more recruits.

Expenditure in 1961 on advertising to support airmen recruiting was £85,000.

I regret that other costs cannot be separately identified.

Mr. Mason

Does not the Minister think that this has been a costly exercise, particularly having in mind that it was designed to undo the damage caused by the premature missile policy of his right hon. Friend, now the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, who was then Minister of Defence?

Mr. Amery

If the hon. Member is referring to the figure of £85,000 which I have just read, it is only about £10 per head, which is not a great deal to spend. Many firms in the country with a much smaller turnover than the Air Force would not hesitate to spend such a sum.

Mr. Mason

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if it had not been for the rather premature policy of the then Minister of Defence, this £85,000 on advertisements in the Press to recruit airmen who thought there was no future in piloted aircraft and manned bombers would not have been at all necesary?

Mr. Amery

We have always had to do a certain amount of advertising. I do not think the difference would have been very great.

7. Mr. Mulley

asked the Secretary of State for Air to what extent the recruiting figures for 1961 meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Amery

After a poor start, aircrew recruiting improved in 1961. Requirements have been met over a considerable part of the year, but we still need more aircrew both for the direct entry and the general list. Recruiting to ground officer branches was fairly satisfactory, but we need more recruits for some professional branches to meet long-term requirements.

Recruitment of ground airmen was broadly satisfactory. There were no problems in the main technical trades, but there were fewer recruits than we should have liked in some administrative and operating trades.

Overall, the recruiting outlook is reasonably satisfactory and attention is being concentrated on improving intakes in the difficult areas.

Mr. Mulley

The Secretary of State has been a little vague in his Answer. Is he satisfied that the target for 1961 has been met, except for one or two categories? Which are those categories? Is he in the same difficulty as the Army with regard to police, drivers, stretcher bearers, and so on? Can he be a little more definite about the categories in which there is a short-fall? How far is the total now away from the total forecast last April?

Mr. Amery

Our main difficulties have been in the recruitment of police, some radar operators, catering assistants, and various unskilled trades of that kind. As regards officers, the technical, medical, dental and educational branches have given us some difficulty. As regards aircrew, which is the problem I was most concerned about at the time of the last Air Estimates, the latest figures—not over the whole year, but over recent months—are satisfactory.