HL Deb 12 February 1969 vol 299 cc415-6

2.36 p.m.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government—

  1. (1) What was the shortfall in naval recruiting in 1968 in respect of
    1. (a) officers,
    2. (b) ratings.
  2. (2) What steps are being taken to improve the position.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTER-BOTTOM)

My Lords, I am sure the noble Earl will not wish me to anticipate any statement that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State may wish to make in another place in a few weeks. I can assure him that my right honourable friend is doing all he can to improve the recruiting situation and that measures to that aim are under continuous review.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. May I ask him this supplementary question? What steps are the Government proposing to take to restore the standing of the Armed Forces in the eyes of the civilian population? In the last four years or so all they have seen is arbitrary cuts in the Services, usually coinciding with some unpopular announcement on the home front. I feel that the time—

EARL ST. ALDWYN

Speech!

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

Perhaps the noble Lord would answer that question.

LORD TEYNHAM

My Lords, arising out of the reply of the noble Lord, would he not agree that the short-fall in recruits is due largely to a succession of White Papers indicating that our Armed Forces are to be reduced, with frequent changes in policy and probably lessened opportunity for men to see the world?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I suggest that the noble Lord should wait until he reads this year's White Paper. Many of the answers to the questions he has asked will be in that White Paper.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, while I find the Answer of the noble Lord to the second part of my noble friend's Question perfectly understandable, may I ask him why it is not possible for him to give the answer to the first part? Surely that is a purely factual question, and the White Paper is not sacrosanct so far as statistics are concerned.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, I apologise to the noble Earl. The recruitment of male ratings for the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines in the calendar year 1968 was 5,090, compared with 7,244 in the calendar year 1967. This information was published in the monthly Press release issued by the Ministry of Defence recently.

THE EARL OF GLASGOW

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his reply to my supplementary question?