HC Deb 13 November 1968 vol 773 cc392-3
20. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate estimate of his department's publicity and recruiting expenditure this year; what percentage this represents of total Government publicity expenditure; and how this percentage compares with the two previous years.

Mr. Reynolds

I estimate that about £3 million will be spent on recruiting publicity this year on the Votes of the Central Office of Information and Stationery Office. This is 48 per cent. of the total sum they expect to incur on Government publicity expenditure this year. In 1967–68 and 1966–67 the percentage was 58 per cent. and 59 per cent. respectively.

Mr. Allaun

Does the run-down of 75,000 Servicemen in the adjustment of recruitment announced in January hold good? If so, why this lavish recruiting expenditure?

Mr. Reynolds

I think I have pointed out to my hon. Friend before that we still, despite the announced run-down, wish to recruit some 35,000 men every year for all three Services in order to make up a proper age and training balance within the Services. We must, by the very nature of armed forces, have a continual inflow of young men. I am convinced, and so are the Government, that despite the run-down there are still a good life and good training and career prospects in the forces for as many young men as we can get up to the 35,000.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Have not the results of recruiting been very disappointing, mainly because of the Government's general attitude and panic cuts in the last two years, including the intention to abolish the Argylls?

Mr. Reynolds

The constant references to defence reductions, I suppose, are inevitable in view of the Government's decisions and because it is always news of reductions and cuts which appear in the newspapers. This may be part of the reason, but a very important reason is that the number of young men in the age group is dropping each year at the present moment because the competition due to the Industrial Training Act makes it easier outside the Services to get the skilled training which at one time was available only in the Services.