§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present shortage of manpower in the Army; and what was the corresponding figure for the same time in the last three years.
§ Mr. ReynoldsOn 31st March, 1968, the soldier strength of the Army was 4.543 below ceiling. The comparable figures for 1965, 1966, and 1967 were 1,578 below, 862 below and 648 below, respectively.