§ Lord Vivianasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action is being taken by the Ministry of Defence to increase the number of recruits for the Army; and what money is being allocated to units that have set up their own unit recruiting teams. [HL3096]
§ Lord BachAction is being taken in a wide range of areas with the aim of increasing Army recruiting, both for officers and soldiers, co-ordinated by the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's Recruiting Group. This includes television advertising, work experience and "Look at Life" courses, graduate recruitment seminars and undergraduate army placements. In addition, concentrated recruitment drives have been trialled in two specific areas. The first in the London68WA area last year showed a 24 per cent increase in inquiries and the latest drive in the North East in February showed an increase in inquiries of 31 per cent, although it is too early to assess the effect on actual enlistments. Similar events are planned for Scotland in June this year, a further London campaign in October, and the home counties and South East also in October. Changes to the recruiting process are being implemented in selected areas using more non-uniformed staff to process applications, allowing uniformed personnel to be more mobile and go out to the potential audience rather than expecting them to come to the recruiting offices. Other initiatives include Camouflage Magazine, which is aimed at 13 to 17 year-olds and aims to cultivate and maintain an early interest in the Army; there are currently nearly 90,000 members of whom nearly half are 15 and 16 year-olds. Also, a Commonwealth selection team is being set up with effect from April 2002 to serve the increasing interest from Commonwealth countries.
As from 1 April 2002 there will be 93 regimental recruiting teams (RRTs), encompassing existing RRTs and the former mobile display teams. These will be staffed by Field Army personnel, but funding will be from both recruiting group and the Field Army. The level of funding will vary according to the team's size and the recruiting need of their particular capbadge. Funding includes the provision of vehicles and trailers, portable computers, mobile telephones, travel and subsistence costs, with fuel costs and marketing support also provided.