HC Deb 23 October 1989 vol 158 cc363-4W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what detailed studies his Department has conducted on recruitment and the demographic trough; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Army has undertaken a study on manning and recruiting in the lean years of the nineties, better known as the Marilyn report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The Ministry of Defence has also conducted a number of internal reviews covering the three services. As a result, a wide range of measures are being taken to step up our recruiting effort and to improve retention.