§ 9. Bob Russell (Colchester)What proposals he has to improve recruitment to those regiments that are not at full strength. [135551]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin)Efforts to target those regiments that are below full strength are already being made. Specific recruiting measures include financial support, use of all possible media avenues including the internet, and the continuing development of relationships with colleges and further education establishments. I expect the Army recruitment target to be achieved this year.
§ Bob RussellI thank the Minister. Will he confirm that the Army is still under strength by about 3,000 soldiers, and that the situation would be even worse if 1,560 soldiers from Fiji had not been recruited? Does he agree that those parts of the United Kingdom with geographic regiments that are fully up to strength should be encouraged to recruit more? In particular, I urge him to reinstate 3rd Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment as a means of helping to make up the shortfall in the Army.
§ Mr. CaplinThe hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point. I certainly welcome the recruitment of Fijians to the British Army; they have made a significant contribution for many years, and I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman wants to desecrate that. [Interruption.] It is expected that Army recruitment targets will be achieved this year, and that they will be achieved the following year too.
§ Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire)The Minister's remarks about desecrating the Fijians will go on the record as being particularly unfortunate. The Army is actually 4,000 men under strength. Will the Minister refute press reports that he intends to put that right by cutting manning strength in the forthcoming White 528 Paper? Will he say what he intends to do about the Territorial Army? The strategic defence review said that we need 44,000 personnel, whereas the current strength is 38,000. Anecdotally, the figure seems to be going down rather than up.
§ Mr. CaplinI apologise to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell). I should have said "denigrate".
We are still recruiting people to the Territorial Army, and they are part of its overall strength. They play an important part, as I know the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) knows from his visits to his own regiment, and they will continue to do so.