§ 71. Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Defence how far recruiting figures for 1968 to the latest available date fall short of the numbers required to maintain the three Services at their planned strength; what steps he proposes in order to bring about an early improvement; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ReynoldsOn the basis of the latest recruiting figures, during the first four months of 1968, we recruited 9,183 male other ranks. This compares with 12,852 recruited in the same period in 1967, and, this rate is below that needed to meet the annual requirement of 35,000 to maintain a steady state. As I informed the House on 12th June, 1968, we are considering ways and means for stimulating recruitment and I am confident that the pay rise will help considerably towards this.—[Vol. 766, cc. 211–12.]
§ 73. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures for Army recruiting, and the corresponding figures for the last two years.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe numbers of adult males recruited during the first four months of 1966, 1967 and 1968 were 6,330, 6,323 and 3,845, respectively.
§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Defence which are the 20 best recruited battalions in the infantry.
§ Mr. ReynoldsSuch recruitment comparisons cannot be drawn, since soldiers are recruited into brigades and large regiments and may be cross-posted between battalions. It would be equally wrong at present to compare brigades 25W and large regiments, since the relationship between their strengths and establishments may be affected by prospective or recent reductions of battalions.