§ 16. Captain Litchfieldasked the Secretary of State for War whether all volunteers wishing to enter regiments for which recruiting is at present restricted are absorbed into other units.
§ 20. Mr. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for War how many men, who 1341 were suitable as recruits, were not accepted as such in recent months because of restrictions on recruiting in the units which they sought to join.
§ Mr. ProfumoVolunteers for regiments and corps for which recruiting is restricted are encouraged, so far as possible, to join other units. But they cannot be forced to join against their wishes. I regret that I cannot give an estimate of the numbers of those who have been affected in this way, but there is no evidence that there has been any serious loss of recruits to the Army.
§ Captain LitchfieldIn the present state of recruitment does my right hon. Friend think that it is really acceptable to lose would-he recruits to the Army because some regiments may be larger than others? Is not a man in uniform with a weapon in his hands in the wrong regiment better than no man at all? Will my right hon. Friend confirm his support for the principle of reinforcing success, as has been done with such success by the Admiralty in the case of the Royal Marines?
§ Mr. ProfumoThere is nothing new in this. There have always been recruiting ceilings, even before the war, and they are set by the general manpower ceiling imposed by Vote A. All that has happened is that for the past twenty years it has not presented any problem because we have had conscription. If we are to have a balanced Army we must have a balanced intake. I think we have got it about right.
§ Mr. MorrisSurely the House should be told how many men were involved? How many would-be recruits were refused? Could not the seventeen units referred to last week be altered? Were any National Service men retained for an extra six months in those seventeen units and the Highland Brigade?
§ Mr. ProfumoI have already told the hon. Gentleman that I have no evidence of any serious loss, but I cannot give accurate figures. I have not got the figures. It is very difficult to break them down. But there is no evidence of serious loss of would-be recruits. This is a well-established form of recruiting. One of the difficulties is that recruiting varies from year to year and from month 1342 to month. A unit which does well one minute may not do so well the next. I am anxious not to alter the procedure.
§ Mr. MorrisWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my supplementary question? Were any National Service men retained in those seventeen units and the Highland Brigade?
§ Mr. ProfumoI am afraid I shall have to have notice of that question.