HC Deb 13 December 1967 vol 756 c407
11. Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now publish the results of his investigations into the system of teenage recruiting.

Mr. Boyden

My hon. Friend is not yet in a position to announce a decision.

Mr. Hall

Was it not stated that a statement would be made to the House between six and seven weeks after the receipt of the Latey Report? As it is now nearly 18 weeks since that Report was received, what is holding up the statement?

Mr. Boyden

The Latey Report was not considered from the point of view of a firm decision in the House. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that my hon. Friend is working on this very hard and hopes soon to have a decision.

Mr. John Lee

Will my hon. Friend tell us when we are likely to expect a reply in this matter? It has been hanging over now for quite a long time.

Mr. Boyden

This is a very complicated matter. There are very important manning matters that affect the Services. I realise that many of my hon. Friends and others are very interested in this. I can give my hon. Friend an assurance that it is being pursued as hard as possible.

Mr. Lubbock

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the Minister of Defence for Administration gave a firm undertaking that he would make a statement to the House within eight weeks of the publication of the Report of the Latey Committee, that he has broken this undertaking, that he has broken his word to the House, and that many hon. Members opposite would be prepared to say so if they were not prevented from doing so by their Whips?

Mr. Boyden

It is very important that a decision on an important matter like this should be firmly and permanently decided by considering all the factors. That is what my hon. Friend is doing.