HC Deb 16 March 1972 vol 833 c744
6. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the total number of recruits for the Armed Forces in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.

Lord Balniel

Figures prior to 1965–66 are not available. From 1965–66 to date the figures are:

  • 3,839,
  • 4,231,
  • 3,178,
  • 2,960,
  • 3,676,
  • 4,854; and for 1971–72 the estimated figure is 5,925.

Mr. Hamilton

Is it not a great pity that figures are not available before 1965? They would show a close correlation between the doubling of male unemployment between 1961 and 1971 and recruitment—in other words, that the best recruiting sergeant for the Army is the dole queue?

Lord Balniel

The hon. Gentleman is quite mistaken. What comes out of the figures that I have given is that under a Labour Government in 1966–67, when unemployment rose by 200,000 recruiting fell at the same time by a dramatic number.