§ Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the recuritment policy of Her Majesty's Forces during the next three years following the recently announced further cuts in defence expenditure.
§ Mr. JohnWe aim over the next three years to recruit sufficient men and women to keep the Services adequately manned, 141W having regard both to the lower force levels resulting from the defence review and to the need to maintain a satisfactory balance of ages, ranks and skills. The reductions in defence expenditure in the recent Public Expenditure White Paper will not substantially affect the manpower levels announced in the Statement on Defence Estimates 1975.