HC Deb 21 March 1962 vol 656 cc366-8
8. Mr. Paget

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the policy and progress of recruitment for the Army outside the British Isles.

Mr. Profumo

Arrangements already exist by which recruits can enlist in the Army in overseas Commands. In addition, last year I organised recruiting in certain overseas territories. As a result we got 449 recruits. During the coming year, I intend to press ahead with this form of recruiting. There are teams at present in action in the Seychelles and in Barbados.

Mr. Paget

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered Jamaica and Africa?

Mr. Profumo

I have considered Jamaica. We have recruited some people from Jamaica, but Jamaica now wants to recruit its own police and some soldiers for itself. Therefore, for the time being I have moved the recruiting team from Jamaica. This is one of the problems which we find when we try to recruit in any foreign territory. We want the best men, but we must not poach on local requirements, whether they are African, Fijian or in any Commonwealth or colonial country. We are very careful about this. I have the problem in mind, but we have to proceed with caution.

Mr. Paget

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the ex-soldiers from the King's African Rifles, many of whom might be very interested?

Mr. Profumo

Any overseas station—Kenya is one of them—is a place at which anybody who wishes to enlist in the British Army can do so.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is compelled to go to the Fijian Islands to get recruits only because the average British young man does not see any reality at all in the Army in modern times in the nuclear age? Does not the Secretary of State think that it is deplorable that he has to go to the Seychelles and the Fijian Islands and all these other places when he cannot get the recruits at home?

Mr. Profumo

As the hon. Gentleman knows from the experience in his own constituency, things are looking up.

Mr. Hughes

No, they are not.

Mr. Profumo

Yes, they are. It would be wrong for us to deny people who are members of the Commonwealth, though they do not live in this country, the chance to serve their Queen in the British Army.

9. Mr. Morris

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of volunteers who have joined the Army, the number who have not exercised an option to complete an engagement, and the number who have extended their service, since the publication of the Government's acceptance of the Grigg Committee's recommendation on pay.

Mr. Profumo

Since November, 1958, when Command Paper No. 570 was published, 82,958 men have joined the Army as volunteers. Since the same date, 31,205 men have not exercised an option to complete an engagement, and 39,255 have extended their service.

Mr. Morris

What evidence has the Secretary of State that these soldiers have accepted the Government's recent unilateral breach of contract with them on pay? How has the Secretary of State acquainted himself with the views of these soldiers? For example, has any private soldier been asked whether he is ready to make a sacrifice of over £20 to the Government?

Mr. Profumo

I cannot pretend that I have gone all round the Army asking soldiers whether they agree with hon. Members opposite. That would be very foolish indeed. I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the tentative recruiting results for the last fortnight—that is to say, since the announcement was made—do not reflect the dismay which hon. Members opposite affected to feel. They are about 25 per cent. up on last year and almost 40 per cent. up on 1960.

Mr. Paget

The right hon. Gentleman is not asked about what we think. It is a question of what these men think. They were engaged upon a certain basis. The Minister of Defence informed us that they would prefer not to have this additional pay to which they are entitled. We want to know whether they have been asked if they agree with the Minister of Defence.

Mr. Profumo

I have given figures which certainly prove to the House that what hon. Members opposite are suggesting is not considered to be the case by soldiers in the Army or indeed by those coming forward as recruits. I believe that the Army as a whole has accepted this decision in the spirit in which it has been taken.