§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on current levels of recruitment and retention into the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. FreemanRecruitment arid retention figures for the Territorial Army are, of course, subject to seasonal variations. The overall strength reached a temporary peak of over 78,000 in May 1987. Essentially the main concern lies in retaining experienced volunteers, rather than in attracting new recruits, although the latter is, of course, closely monitored. We have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving retention, most recently agreement to the funding of a major media campaign recommended by the National Employer Liaison Committee, details of which I gave in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampshire, East (Mr. Mates) on 29 February 1988 at column142.