HC Deb 11 June 1973 vol 857 cc242-3W
Mr. Maginnis

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many men have been recruited into Her Majesty's Forces during each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, in Northern Ireland; how these figures compared with other regions in the United Kingdom and how this recruitment is made up by age categories.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Recruitment by regions for the years 1968–69 to 1971–72 was given in my replies to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) in 24th May.—[Vol. 857, c.135–6.]

Recruitment by regions for the financial year 1972–73 was as follows:

Region Number of Recruits
Northern Ireland 962
Northern 3,280
Yorkshire and Humberside 3,851
North Western 5,456
East Midland 2,831
West Midland 3,272
East Anglia 1,117
South Eastern 7,894
South Western 3,020
Wales 1,866
Scotland 4,671
United Kingdom Total 38,220

Recruitment by age categories in 1972–73 in Northern Ireland was as follows:

Age on entry Number of Recruits
Under 17 459
17 186
18 107
19 58
20 39
21 22
22 21
23 15
24 14
25 and over 41
Total 962

Similar information on age structure for previous years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.