22. Lieut.-Colonel Colin Mitchellasked the Minister of State for Defence what viable operational rôle he proposes for the surviving 120 men of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and what long-term career structure is planned for soldiers recruited into this sub-unit of infantry.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThey will be given a rôle as an airportable company in a brigade of 3 Division. Officers and men will have career prospects equal to those of the rest of the Scottish Division.
Lieut.-Colonel MitchellWhat will be the career structure for recruits who enlist and want to serve in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, particularly if they come from the territorial counties of the Regiment—Argyll, Stirling, Clackmannan, Kinross, Renfrew and Dunbar-ton? If they are posted to other regiments in the Scottish Division, is there any 403 guarantee that they will at some time in their service serve with the Argylls? The second part of my question—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The question must be brief.
Lieut.-Colonel MitchellI understand that there are no officers at Sandhurst, or going to Sandhurst, earmarked for commissioning into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Therefore, if the Regiment is to be re-raised in two years' time as a battalion, where are the officers coming from?
§ Mr. GilmourRecruits to the Scottish Division who express a preference for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders will be posted to serve with the company as and when vacancies exist, subject to manning priorities within the Division. As to my hon. and gallant Friend's information about those who will go to Sandhurst in the next year or two, I have not had similar information.
§ Mr. William HamiltonHow is the special recruitment campaign for the Argylls going? Has recruiting gone beyond the one that it was a month ago?
§ Mr. GilmourIn spite of the remarks by the right hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. George Thomson) yesterday and the implication of the hon. Gentleman's question, the reprieve of the Argylls as one company was widely welcomed in Scotland.