HC Deb 26 November 1996 vol 286 cc140-1
6. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of recruiting each new member of the Royal Air Force in each of the past five years. [4314]

Mr. Soames

The average cost of a recruit to the Royal Air Force in fiscal year 1995–96 was £10,333. Figures for the previous four years were £22,000, £26,000, £19,000 and £6,000 respectively.

Mr. Flynn

Is this not an Alice in Wonderland situation? In the year when it cost £26,000 to recruit one member of the RAF, the Government made 1,000 members redundant, most of whom were highly skilled. Most of them were made redundant against their wishes. In the following two years, when a new recruit cost £22,000, the Government made 2,000 and 3,000 redundant. Is that not financial mismanagement on an Olympic scale?

Mr. Soames

No, it is not. I know that the hon. Gentleman is unable to participate in Defence questions very often, but it is clear that he has not been present in the past few months when these matters were exhaustively debated. He must try to understand that, despite the considerable downsizing that has taken place, the RAF needs to maintain a viable recruitment organisation. We need to recruit fewer people into the Royal Air Force, so each recruit plainly costs more. As the number of recruits rises in the next few years, the recruitment costs will fall. I am satisfied that we have an efficient and effective recruitment infrastructure, and that in the years to come the cost per recruit will significantly reduce.

Mr. Bellingham

Will my hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to members of 39 PR squadron at RAF Marham, who have been involved in recent reconnaissance missions over Zaire and Rwanda? Incidentally, it is the former squadron of my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans), himself an intrepid aviator. Will my hon. Friend pay tribute to those airmen based in my constituency, and wish them well in their mission?

Mr. Soames

I believe that every penny spent on the recruiting of the crew of that squadron was money well spent. I will always join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to the extraordinary aviation skills of our hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans)—and I also thank my hon. Friend for his splendid support for the RAF.

Forward to