HC Deb 13 November 1968 vol 773 cc393-5
21. Mr. Dance

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the shortfall in officers and adult male other ranks separately in each of the three Services compared with the establishment strength.

Mr. Reynolds

As the Answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, publish it in the Official Report.

Mr. Dance

But is the Minister aware that when I recently visited the Services in the Far East there was great disquiet at the run-down, and uncertainty amongst all ranks as to their future, and that this affects recruiting very considerably?

Mr. Reynolds

I think the figures given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army earlier apply to the other Services as well. We are finding that re-engagement among the Services is increasing. This does not seem to back up the hon. Gentleman's allegations about uncertainty.

Mr. Spriggs

Would my right hon. Friend look at the problem of Service men discharged because of ill health, and consider pensioning those men—and women—who fail in health?

Mr. Reynolds

It depends on how much service they have got in before discharge through ill health takes place, but I do accept that, because people are housed by the Services, then in many cases of discharge through ill health there are difficulties which are quite different from the difficulties of civilians who lose their jobs through ill health.

Mr. Ramsden

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the question which the Under-Secretary of State could not answer on re-engagement, namely, whether the percentages which the Government give represent the percentage of those available to re-engage at the date in question?

Mr. Reynolds

For the life of me I cannot offhand think of any other way of calculating it, but I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

Following is the Answer:

The trained strengths and requirement for male officers in each of the three Services as at 30th September, 1968, are as follows:—

Requirement Trained Strength Shortfall
Royal Navy and Royal Marines 10,020 9,670 350
Army 19,410 (estimated) 19,030 380 (estimated)
Royal Air Force 18,321 18,225 96

The corresponding figures for adult male other ranks are:—

Requirement Trained Strength Shortfall
Royal Navy and Royal Marines 72,200 71,200 1,000
Army 157,534 (estimated) 150,509 7,025 (estimated)
Royal Air Force 88,603 86,710 1,893

Figures for Army requirements are calculated as at the end of each financial year, and an estimate has therefore had to be made of those for 30th September, 1968.

22. Mr. Dance

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many infantry battalions are below establishment strength; and by how many men.

Mr. Boyden

43 out of 59 British infantry battalions are below established strength; the average number of men short per battalion is 44.

Mr. Dance

Is not the Minister aware that many thoughtful people think that it is complete lunacy on the part of the Government to contemplate any rundown at all of those excellent and comparatively cheap soldiers, namely, the Gurkhas?

Mr. Boyden

No.