§ 33. Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recruitment for the Ulster Defence Regiment.
§ Mr. MasonSince 1st January 1974 the weekly number of applications to join the UDR has averaged 40 men and 12 women, resulting in a total weekly average of 33 enrolments in the regiment. The total male strength of the UDR has fallen this year by 301 to 7,311 all ranks. The strength of women members has risen over the same period by 125 to 440.
Despite the fall in numbers the regiment has continued to meet its operational commitments, but it is obviously desirable that the flow of recruits should improve in order that the demands on part-time members should be relaxed as far as the operational situation allows. The recently formed recruiting team is designed to give the eleven UDR battalions, on which the main onus for local recruiting properly rests, specialist advice and support, and the regiment is continuing by various means to foster its regimental spirit.