§ 11. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he now has for improving recruitment to the armed forces, having regard to their present and probable future commitments, and to current United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence policy.
§ 13. Mr. Laneasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for increasing the rate of recruitment to the Services during 1970–71.
§ The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. Roy Hattersley)We are constantly examining ways and means of improving our methods of recruitment and conditions of service. Among these improvements I refer to the contents of the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House on 25th February.—[Vol. 796, c. 1200–7.]
§ Mr. CroninWill my hon. Friend not agree that, no matter how much recruitment has improved, there is no possibility of increasing British Armed Forces or those of the N.A.T.O. countries to a size where it would be possible to resist all-out Russian aggression without social and economic changes which would be totally unacceptable?
§ Mr. HattersleyMy right hon. Friend dealt with this subject at length in last year's defence debate. I suspect that he will do the same today.
§ Mr. LaneWould it not be helpful if, in the remaining months of their life, the 391 Government boasted less about cut-backs and economies, and talked far more about the vital rôle which the Services still have in Europe and elsewhere?
§ Mr. HattersleyAll defence Ministers have emphasised—I did in the House in December—the continuing central and essential rôle of the Services. I can only say that it is right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite who constantly denigrate our defence effort and, therefore, have had an effect on recruitment.