§ 18. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War the total number of volunteers for the three-year engagement since it was introduced; and what is his estimate of the net addition in man-years to the strength of the Army, taking into account the National Service obligations of the men concerned.
§ Mr. HeadBetween November, 1951, when this engagement was introduced, and 30th April, 1955, 86,638 men enlisted for three years with the Colours and four with the Reserve and 48,454 on the 22-year engagement. All but 9,702 were liable for National Service, and the additional full-time service contracted for, counting each engagement as three years only and excluding National Service, was 165,300 man-years.
§ 24. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for War if he will prepare a statement showing the numbers of men who volunteered for three-year engagements and the numbers and proportions who prolonged their engagements in the six-monthly periods 1st January to 30th June and 1st July to 31st December, 1952; and if he will publish the statement as soon as the facts are available.
§ Mr. HeadI gave the figures for the period 1st November, 1951, to 31st March, 1952, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Wigg) on 21st June. I shall publish further figures as soon as they become available and the next set will cover the men who enlisted between 1st April and 30th September, 1952.