HC Deb 05 April 1974 vol 871 cc450-1W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the success in recruiting soldiers from the Republic of Ireland in the past year, or over any convenient period of time, as a result of advertisements in the Irish editions of British newspapers; and how many men were recruited from the Republic of Ireland into the British Army in 1973–74.

Mr. William Rodgers

The only recruitment advertising in the Republic of Ireland is that contained in editions of United Kingdom newspapers which circulate both in the United Kingdom and the Republic. The Ministry of Defence does not recruit within the Republic, and statistics are not kept centrally of the place of origin or home addresses of soldiers enlisted in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect of the advertisement campaign in national newspapers to recruit potential officers and other ranks to the Army.

Mr. William Rodgers

The evidence shows that both our officer and soldier advertising campaigns achieve their primary objective, which is to encourage worthwhile numbers of potential officers and soldiers to make detailed inquiries about careers in the Army.