HC Deb 22 February 1999 vol 326 cc8-10
6. Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)

What steps he is taking to improve retention in the Army. [70496]

The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Doug Henderson)

The Government and the Army are committed to achieving full staffing by around 2004. We are, therefore, properly focusing our efforts on both recruitment and retention. The Army's human resources strategy, which puts people first, provides the foundation on which the Army will obtain, retain and sustain its most important assets. An action plan has been produced to support that human resources strategy. It will take forward both the strategic defence review's policy for people initiatives and other innovative measures that the Army has identified to enhance retention.

Mr. Soames

Does the Minister agree that retention is proving extremely difficult? I have every sympathy with him on that, as I tried to wrestle with the problem myself for three years. Does he agree that all previous prescriptions have proved not to be as successful as they should have been? What new ground is he considering in the attempt to improve retention, which is probably the single most important personnel challenge facing him?

Mr. Henderson

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising an important issue facing the Army, and I am pleased that he recognises that there is no quick, easy solution to the problem of raising staffing numbers. I believe that we recruit a soldier but retain a family. It is important to address both ends of that spectrum. First, we have to extend recruitment and try to recruit more women and more people from the black and Asian communities into the Army. I am pleased to be able to tell the House that the number of soldiers is now 18 per cent. higher than it was last year.

As the hon. Gentleman says, it is equally important to retain those who are in the Army. That is why we set up the service families task force, which examines issues such as how to ensure a better education for the children of those who serve in the Army—for example, how they can gain access to schools when they move from one location to another, and how their children can claim grants on their return to the United Kingdom after postings overseas. By examining those practical issues, addressing them and working through the agenda, we shall make remaining in the Army more attractive.

Mr. Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead)

Is not the retention of black and ethnic minority citizens also important? Is it not true that, when the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) was Minister of State for the Armed Forces, there was so much racism and bullying in the armed forces that the Commission for Racial Equality nearly took the Ministry of Defence to court? The Labour Government have made much progress on stopping such racism; will my hon. Friend the Minister keep up the pressure? I hope that members of the black and ethnic minority communities will become senior officers in the Army and serve as role models, so encouraging others to join.

Mr. Henderson

It is crucial that all sections of the British community be approached by the Army, emphasising that it is a first-choice career for young people who might consider serving with us. However, it is important that we make an extra effort in the black and Asian communities, who comprise approximately 6 per cent. of the British population, but comprised less than 1 per cent. of the Army population until 12 months ago. The figures are improving because of recruitment targeting over the past 12 months. I hope that my hon. Friend accepts that we are doing all we can, but that it is not easy to persuade people in those communities, which are often underprivileged, that their sons and daughters can have a good career in the Army.

Mr. Keith Simpson (Mid-Norfolk)

From the questions asked by my hon. Friends the Members for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) and for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier), the Minister will be aware that Conservative Members too are concerned about retention, especially in the light of the poll carried out by the MOD before the strategic defence review took place: that poll highlighted the fact that one of the main problems affecting retention was overstretch and the gaps between overseas exercises and overseas deployments. The Minister will be aware that, in a lecture last Thursday, the Chief of the General Staff made the point that the Army is more heavily committed than at any other time in peacetime and that, if the forces that are predicted for Kosovo are included, the proportion committed rises to 41 per cent. I have to say that many people are not taken—[Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. Please ask a question.

Mr. Simpson

Many people are not taken by the Minister's statement. Will he tell the House whether he is prepared to go back to the Treasury and come up with more resources to meet that major shortfall?

Mr. Henderson

The hon. Gentleman can either address the issue or try to make party political capital out of it. I was pleased that the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) addressed the real difficulties we face in attracting more people into the armed forces, because that is what we have to do if we are to reduce the overstretch. I hope that the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) recognises that. He should bear in mind the fact that the strategic defence review committed us to an increase of 3,500 people in our Army.