HC Deb 10 July 1963 vol 680 cc1218-9
8. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider and relax the restriction on recruitment of young men who have previously been convicted of dishonesty, however minor, particularly where this restriction is preventing former approved school boys, with good records at school and after release, from choosing a career in the Army.

Mr. Godber

Boys from approved schools may be considered for the Army six months after their release and the present rules do ensure that their applications are treated on their merits. We do accept boys who have been at approved schools whenever they are judged suitable.

Mr. Chapman

Yes, but do I detect in what the right hon. Gentleman has said a note of real sympathy about the case behind this Question? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to go so far as to say that a misdemeanour committed by a boy, and followed by approved school training and a good record at school and a good record on release, will not dog him for the rest of his life if he wants to make the Army his career? Will he make this absolutely clear to governors of approved schools, like myself, so that we may know exactly where we are in these matters?

Mr. Godber

Yes, I am glad the hon. Member has raised this point. We have, of course, to safeguard the position of the Army in relation to the people who are allowed to join. It is an important factor. On the other hand, we want to see that where a boy can rehabilitate himself in this way he should be given the opportunity. That is why I say that I think that six months is a reasonable interval in which to allow us to judge. We do not want to prevent his entry, but we must at the same time have certain safeguards.

Mr. B. Harrison

While not knowing specifically about the case to which this Question refers, may I ask my right hon. Friend to be extremely careful about relaxing standards in the Army, because some of us feel that it is just this sort of relaxation—and television advertising and so on—which leads to entry of the type of person who walks out?

Mr. Manuel

Condemn them for life?

Mr. Godber

I quite understand the point my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. B. Harrison), but this is not a question of relaxation; it is a question of tightening up.

Mr. Wigg

May I congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on both his accession to office in his present Department and also on having some regard to the standard of recruits taken into the Army, because that is a marked change in Government policy?

Mr. Godber

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his personal comment, but I do not think I can accept that there is a change in Government policy.