HC Deb 21 July 1965 vol 716 cc1555-6
9. Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of naval personnel under the age of 18 years; and for what period these have enlisted.

The Minister of Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. Christopher Mayhew)

At 31st March, 9,826 naval and marine officers and men; 9,013 were on 9-year engagements, and 790 were on 12-year engagements, both starting at 18. Fifteen were training for permanent commissions and eight for short service commissions.

Mr. Rose

Would my hon. Friend review the system whereby boys of 18 are signed on for a period of 12 years? Would he consider introducing an option at the end of three years, by which time these boys will have been sufficiently experienced fully to consider the matter? Will he also bear in mind the comment of one of my constituents who, in writing to me, refers to being "sold into military slavery"?

Mr. Mayhew

I obviously could not for a moment accept the phrase just quoted by my hon. Friend. I think that the break of three years which he suggests would be quite impracticable. However, on the general point of allowing very young men joining the Service to have some chance of opting out, perhaps in the early stages, there might be a case for this, and I am looking into it.

Captain Litchfield

Is the Minister aware that several hon. and gallant Members of this House joined the Royal Navy at the age of 13 and that our experience has shown that it is a jolly good system?

Mr. Hamling

Would my hon. Friend not agree that it might be useful in cases like this for these young men to be given interesting service, particularly overseas, so that they are not extremely bored, especially when they are stationed at home?

Mr. Mayhew

That is a very good point. We are always anxious to bring in sea training as quickly as possible in a young man's career.

Dame Irene Ward

Would the hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that his hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose), who used an expression contained in a letter from a constituent, did not express the view of most of the people on Tyneside?

Hon. Members

Answer.

Dame Irene Ward

Answer, please.