§ 8. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the recruiting methods used by the Armed Forces.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. James Wellbeloved)On the whole, yes, Sir.
§ Mr. CanavanIs my hon. Friend aware that on a recent visit to a school fete, along with my wife and young family, I was confronted with an armoured car and other military equipment and personnel encouraging young people to play a game called "Shoot to Kill"? Will he take steps to stop this glamorisation of violence, which seems to be aimed at recruiting young people of an impressionable age into the Armed Forces from areas of high unemployment?
§ Mr. WellbelovedIf my hon. Friend will be kind enough to send me details of the case to which he refers, I shall look into it. I can assure him that it is not the Department's practice to go to schools trying to persuade young people to join the Armed Forces against their will. The recruiting teams and advisers who visit institutions such as schools are most careful to present a balanced picture of life in the Armed Forces and to point out to young people that it is an honourable and exciting career that they could enter if the so wished.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergDoes the hon. Gentleman agree that the immorality is more likely to be in the mind of the original questioner?
§ Mr. WellbelovedI have great confidence in and comradeship towards my hon. Friend. I do not share the views expressed by the hon. Gentleman.