HC Deb 19 December 1969 vol 793 cc429-30W
Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the membership and terms of reference of the committee he is appointing to inquire into the recruitment of young men and boys into Her Majesty's Forces.

Mr. Hattersley

On 13th November I promised to set up a committee to include independent as well as official members to examine the entire question of the recruitment of young boys into Her Majesty's Forces. This committee has now been constituted. Its terms of reference are as follows: In the light of the raising of the school-leaving age, and the lowering of the age of majority:

  1. (a) To inquire whether there are any regulations, conditions and procedures affecting the entry and initial training of young men under 18 in Service establishments which are more restrictive than those imposed by law or tradition on civilians of a similar age, and the extent to which any such regulations or procedures properly derive from the necessity to train young men for employment in a disciplined fighting Service.
  2. (b) To advise the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the nature and extent of any changes which might be introduced which would improve the terms and conditions of engagements without excessive cost, whilst safeguarding the manning and the military efficiency of the Forces.

Lord Donaldson has kindly consented to be Chairman. The members will be:

Miss Anne Allen (Newspaper Columnist).

Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer (Member of the N.B.P.I.).

Air Vice Marshall L. W. G. Gill (Director-General of R.A.F. Manning).

Mr. Jimmy Hill (Head of Sport, London Weekend Television).

Mr. J. A. Lefroy (H.M.I., Department of Education and Science).

Rear-Admiral J. E. L. Martin (Director-General of Personal Services and Training (Naval)).

Major General A. G. Patterson (Director of Army Training).

Mr. Malcolm Ross (Headmaster of Crown Woods School, London, S.E.9.).

Dr. A. E. Thompson (University of Edinburgh).

Mr. B. T. Wilson (Manager, Organisation and Personnel Planning, Ford Motor Company).

Mr. C. W. Wright (A Deputy Under Secretary of State).

I am confident that this widely representative committee will be able to examine this difficult problem thoroughly and sympathetically.

The committee will welcome representations from individuals or organisations.

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