HC Deb 26 July 1956 vol 557 cc68-70W
Mr. Wigg

asked the Minister of Defence to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the male recruiting by engagements for the periods April to June, 1955 and 1956, in the same form as set out in Parts A and B of his periodical return entitled "Quarterly Armed Forces Recruiting, Prolongations of Service and Structure by Length of Engagement. (Other Ranks-only.)"

Sir W. Monckton

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th July, 1956; Vol. 556, c. 113], gave the following information:

PART A—MALE RECRUITING BY ENGAGEMENTS *
1955 1956
April—June April—June
R.N. AND R.M.
Adult entrants
Special service (7 years) … … … … … 464 —
Long service (9 years) … … … … … - 827
Continuous service (12 years) … … … … … 230 1
Others … … … … … 13 111
Entrants under 17½
Juniors† … … … … … 873 1,020
Apprentices (12 years) … … … … … 148 112
TOTAL … … … … … 1,728 2,071
ARMY
3 years Colours, 4 years Reserve … … … … 3,843 2,456
22-year engagement
3 years Colours … … … … 3,968 5,843
6 years Colours … … … … — 316
9 years Colours … … … … — 656
Others … … … … 91 107
Boys and apprentices … … … … 358 594
TOTAL … … … … 8,260 9,972
R.A.F.
Apprentices and boys (10 or 12 years) … … … 749 717
3 years … … … 2,163 2,363
4 years … … … 970 755
5–8 years … … … 1,072 1,244
9 years and over … … … 162 696
TOTAL … … … 5,116 5,775
ALL SERVICES … … … 15,104 17,818
PART B—MALE RECRUITING *
(Detailed comparison of quarter ending 30th June, 1956, with comparable quarter of 1955)
April—June, 1955 April—June, 1956
Navy Army R.A.F. Totals Navy Army R.A.F. Totals
Men on full-time National Service transferring to regular engagements. 16 1,270 205 1,491 57 1,321 509 1,887
Regular entries who would otherwise be available for National Service call-up during the year. 581 6,217 3,872 10,670 457 6,636 3,331 10,424
Re-entries of men with previous service. 39 295 134 468 152 466 617 1,235
Others: including juniors, boys and apprentices. 1,092 478 905 2,475 1,405 1,549 1,318 4,272
TOTALS 1,728 8,260 5,116 15,104 2,071 9,972 5,775 17,818
* Recruits either with or without previous service in the Armed Forces, but excluding men on Regular engagements who prolong their period of service.
† Prior to 21st February, 1956, Navy recruits aged under 17½ (other than apprentices) entered as "Boys" or "Youths" and undertook a 7 or 12 year engagement. Since that date all such recruits have been described as "Juniors" and have undertaken a 9 year engagement.