§ 3. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence at what annual rate of expenditure recruiting is now running; how this compares with the annual rate of expenditure at the similar period last year; and to what extent he proposes to reduce current recruiting expenditure.
§ The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. G. W. Reynolds)The annual rate of expenditure is £10 million as compared with £9.8 million last year. The composition of the Armed Forces must be balanced, and future reductions do not affect the need for recruits now.
§ Mr. AllaunBut is that not a ridiculous waste of money? What is the sense in having lavish four-page advertisements in the weekend "glossies" when the Armed Forces are to be cut by 37,000 anyway?
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe age structure of a place like, shall I say, this House, is not particularly important, but the age structure of an infantry battalion is important. We have to get young people in to make up for the older ones who go out.