§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has now taken in the light of the recommendations of the Marilyn report.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonWork continues on a number of measures aimed at improving recruitment and retention in the Army. I told the House during the Army debate on 8 June 1989, at column 389, that additional funds have been devoted to recruitment publicity. This has resulted in a welcome increase in both inquiries and applications.
Work continues in a variety of areas described in the Marilyn report, for example the introduction of a remedial physical development course has enabled over 200 recruits, who would otherwise have failed to meet Army fitness standards, to complete their basic training and begin Army careers.
We have also successfully introduced a policy facilitating transfers between corps and regiments. The number of servicemen who were unhappy in their original choice of arm and have opted to transfer within the Army rather than to leave altogether has risen by almost 26 per cent.
The Army has decided to expand significantly the role of women. This could in due course result in up to 10,000 regular and reserve posts currently filled by men becoming available to women for the first time. The measures will provide the opportunity for women to join regiments and corps which until now have been all male.