§ Mr. Urwinasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of recruits to each branch of the Armed forces, including the Royal Marines, in each year since 1970, listed by the sex and age grouping, and by economic planning regions.
§ Mr. JohnThe total number of recruits, men and women, officers and Service men and Service women, into each of the Armed Services during the last five financial years is as follows:
Group deployments will continue … from time to time but will occur less frequently in future."-(Chapter III, paragraph 9a)and to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence thatthe Royal Navy will retain the ability to deploy world wide in defence of national interests and in co-operation with our allies." —[Vol. 890, c. 245.]