HC Deb 25 July 1968 vol 769 cc196-7W
Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of recruits joining the various Scottish regiments for the first six months of this year; what were the corresponding figures for the same period last year; and in what counties they joined.

Mr. Boyden

Men were recruited into brigades in the periods in question. The figures are:

1st January—30th June, 1967 1st January—30th June, 1968
Lowland Brigade 183 68
Highland Brigade 137 106

I regret that no information is available about the counties in which they joined or about the number of men who upon applying to enlist indicated a wish to join a particular regiment.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the weekly cost per man of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Scots Greys.

Mr. Boyden

The estimated weekly cost per man of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, an infantry battalion stationed in the United Kingdom is £32 and of the Royal Scots Greys, an armoured regiment serving in B.O.A.R., is £54.

Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if as alternatives to the disbanding of further Scottish regiments, he will consider the reduction in the size of each regiment and a cut in the number of Civil Service employees employed by his Department.

Mr. Reynolds

No. The first alternative would lead to diminished operational efficiency and increased overhead and equipment costs. Further reductions in civilian employees are now being planned.

Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many instances since 1950 have representations against disbanding Scottish regiments resulted in his Department's cancelling of the decision to disband.

Mr. Boyden

In no case has a decision to disband a regiment, Scottish or otherwise, been changed after it has been announced.

Mrs. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received protesting against the disbanding of the Cameronians and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to the last convenient date; and if he will list these representations.

Mr. Boyden

Some 60 letters or telegrams have been received. About a third are from civic authorities and the rest are from private citizens.