§ 1. Commander Courtneyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present re-engagement rate for ratings of the Royal Navy completing their first period of service; if the figure is satisfactory; and if he will make a statement.
§ Commander CourtneyIn asking this Question, Mr. Speaker, may I, on behalf of hon. Members on both sides of the House, say how very glad we are to see you back?
§ The Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Christopher Mayhew)May I associate myself warmly with the good wishes of the hon. and gallant Member for Harrow, East (Commander Courtney)?
About 53 per cent. This is not nearly as high as we would like. I am studying the problem urgently.
§ Commander CourtneyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the re-engagement rate at present is perhaps even more important than the recruitment rate, and that to get a good re-engagement rate we must promise both officers and ratings a long and secure career? Are we to hear more about the expansion of the Navy, so confidently forecast by his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, at Chatham, Devonport and elsewhere?
§ Mr. MayhewI entirely agree that we will not solve our problems only through recruiting, because by re-engagement we get trained men whom we could not get in years of training with recruits. I am not going to make any hopeful noises until I am certain that we can take positive action along the line I have suggested.
§ Mr. HayIs the Minister aware that the disincentive effect of the sort of noises the Chancellor of the Exchequer was making last week about cutting our defence commitments in various parts of the world will have a very grave effect on the re-engagement rate, and will he do what he can to persuade his right hon. Friend to be a little more sensible?
§ Mr. MayhewThe hon. Gentleman has enough knowledge of these matters to know the principal difficulties we are up against—family separation and serious matters of that kind—and these will not be affected by the Chancellor's statement.