§ 5. Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total accumulated shortfall in recruiting of officers and men for each of the three Services as at 1st April, 1970; and what further steps he plans to improve recruitment.
§ Mr. HattersleyFirm figures for 1st April, 1970, are not yet available. The estimated total accumulated shortfall in recruiting of officers and men for each of the three services is Royal Navy and Royal Marines—2,660; the Army—7,660; and the Royal Air Force—2,470, totalling 12,790.
As regards further steps to improve recruitment, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) and the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) on 4th March, 1970.—[Vol. 792, c. 390–391.]