§ 4. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his recruiting targets for each of the three Services for 1978; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. James Wellbeloved)Recruiting targets are set at the level necessary to meet the overall manpower requirements of the Services. They are frequently revised during the year to take account of changes in these requirements and other factors, such as recruiting performance and projected rates of outflow. It is not, therefore, our practice to publish detailed statements of manpower requirements, but in the present financial year the Services are expecting to recruit some 40,000 men and women from civilian life.
§ Mr. PriceI thank the Minister for that non-answer. Is he aware of the importance of offering comparable pay to Service men? Now that we have reached the voluntary stage of the Government's pay policy, will he say how many of the existing Service men are volunteers for stage 3 and how many are conscripts?
§ Mr. WellbelovedThe whole population, taking a sensible, realistic and patriotic view of the economic circumstances of the country, are volunteers in support of the very successful policy put forward by the Government. It is a great shame that the hon. Gentleman did not join us as a volunteer in the Lobby last night to put forward our general policy but instead pursued a policy that will lead to a further increase in the cost of living.
§ Mr. Gwilym RobertsWill the Minister quote to the House again the high cost of recruiting individual members of the Armed Forces? Does he not agree that part of those high costs can be laid at the door of the prestige recruiting centres to be found in the middle of towns and that it would be far better to use such places as jobcentres to initiate recruiting?
§ Mr. WellbelovedI have told the House on a number of occasions that I am not satisfied with the level of costs in recruiting people to the Armed forces. Extensive reviews have taken place which have resulted in substantial savings in the current financial year. I am about to review again certain aspects of the recruiting service to see whether yet further improvements in efficiency and economies in costs can be brought about.
§ Mr. Michael McNair-WilsonIs the Minister satisfied with the recruitment of junior officers into the Army? If not, what does he intend to do about the situation?
§ Mr. WellbelovedWe are reasonably satisfied with recruitment to the Army, but I have some concern about recruitment of aircrew into the Royal Air Force.