HC Deb 25 July 1978 vol 954 cc1346-7
6. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures available for the cost of recruiting soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Recruitment to the Armed Services in the financial year 1977–78 accounted for approximately £26.16 million. During this period 38,237 men and women joined the Services, and on this basis the average cost per recruit was £684.

Mr. Roberts

Does my hon. Friend accept that that figure is far too high? Does he agree that it is necessary to bring recruitment into line with industrial practice through the jobcentres? Does he also accept that it is vitally necessary to remove the intolerable class distinctions in every facility which operate in the forces and which act as a disincentive to recruitment?

Mr. Wellbeloved

As regards average cost per recruit, I agree with my hon. Friend that this figure is too high. We are attempting to take measures to bring it down to a more reasonable level. In regard to jobcentres, we are considering this matter to see whether they can play a greater part. With regard to the last part of my hon. Friend's question and his claim that the Armed Forces are class-ridden, that may have been the case many years ago but I can assure my hon. Friend that more and more sons and daughters of working men and women are now joining the forces and obtaining commissions. I do not believe that we on the Government Benches do ourselves any good by trying to imply that the Armed Forces officer corps is exclusively the prerogative and privilege of the nonworking classes. Working-class lads are being awarded commissions.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

Does the Minister accept that the cost of recruiting might be reduced if those recruited were more fairly treated in their domestic arrangements? Will he state whether he is in regular contact with the forces wives' associations which have sprung up like mushrooms, based on discontent of a very real nature? Will he consider setting up a liaison committee? Does he accept that, although the main platform of discontent is pay, there are many practical matters that these associations can bring to the Ministry on an informative basis and, which he could do something about? Will he set up a liaison committee with the forces wives' association?

Mr. Wellbeloved

I have received a number of representations from members of the forces wives' association, and later this week, in conjunction with some of my right hon. and hon. Friends, I hope to meet a number of the association's members.