§ 9. Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for Defence by how many men and women the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve I is under strength; and what percentage this figure represents of permited establishment plus overbearing.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defencefor the Army (Mr. Ivor Richard)On 31st December, 1969, the TAVR Group A, which would broadly approximate to the Category II referred to by the hon. Gentleman, was 12,004 men and 364 women below the total establishment. This shortfall represents 22 per cent. of the total establishment of about 56,000. Overbearing above the total establishment of the TAVR is not permitted.
§ Mr. WigginIn view of the fact that the TAVR Category A is the front line defence of B.A.O.R., does not the Minister consider that a 22 per cent. deficiency reveals a substantial gap in our national defences?
§ Mr. RichardThe hon. Gentleman is putting it much too high. The strength of the TAVR Group A improved by nearly 7,000 during 1969, from 36,828 to 43,760. I have every hope that this trend will be maintained.
§ 10. Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on recruiting for the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve H in 1968 and 1969, respectively.
§ Mr. RichardThe amounts spent on, or allocated for, recruiting for the whole of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in 1968–69 and 1969–70 are £93,000 and £75,000 respectively. It is not possible to say what proportion of these sums was in respect of any particular category or group of the TAVR.
§ Mr. WigginWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind, when allocating funds for recruiting to TAVR, that a great number of people are not aware of the new organisation and still believe the T.A. to be defunct? Will he consider allocating extra funds in the coming season?
§ Mr. RichardIf it is right that a number of people are not aware that the TAVR exists, a large part of the responsibility for that must lay at the door of the right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite. However, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the fact that the Government are spending the sums that they are on advertising is an indication of how seriously we take the matter.
§ Mr. RamsdenIn the interests of recruiting, will there be an early statement on new levels of reserve pay, and will they be provided for in a Supplementary Estimate?
§ Mr. RichardI hope that a statement will be made in the near future.