HC Deb 24 March 1976 vol 908 cc208-9W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much of recruitment expenditure was spent on advertising and how much on recruitment centres in 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972 and 1971, respectively;

(2) what was the cost of recruitment campaigns in 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972 and 1971.

Mr. John

Expenditure on recruiting activities for the years 1971–72 to 1975–76 was as follows:

Mr. John

The number of United Kingdom Service personnel of all ranks—i.e., including officers and Service men—and both sexes recruited in the years 1971–72 to 1975–76 is as follows

(2) how many Service men have been recruited in 1976 to date, in 1975. 1974. 1973. 1972 and 1971.

Mr. John

The numbers of Service men and Service women excluding Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service recruited in the 11 standard regions of the United Kingdom in the financial years 1971–72 to 1975–76 were as follows:

STANDARD REGION
1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 (to 31st January 1976)
North:
Men … … … 3,452 3,280 2,064 2,746 2,552
Women … … … 480 321 269 395 359
Yorkshire and Humberside:
Men … … … 4,846 3,851 2,302 3,208 3,261
Women … … … 469 301 309 336 268
East Midland:
Men … … … 3 296 2 831 2 269 2 860 2,785
Women … … … 433 334 303 442 361
East Anglia:
Men … … … 1,333 1,117 787 1,139 1,089
Women … … … 259 248 208 200 123
South-East:
Men … … … 9,567 7,894 5,166 7,217 6,875
Women … … … 1,343 1,089 901 1,039 949
South-West:
Men … … … 3,484 3,020 2,239 3,190 3,135
Women … … … 463 395 379 426 434
West Midland:
Men … … … 3,642 3,272 2,252 3,174 3,244
Women … … … 508 463 408 410 347
North-West:
Men … … … 6,427 5,456 3,544 4,802 4,719
Women … … … 855 663 537 587 427
Wales:
Men … … … 2,217 1,866 1,375 1,919 1,939
Women … … … 309 258 292 353 240
Scotland:
Men … … … 5,965 4,671 3,045 3,737 3,474
Women … … … 850 611 465 590 516
Northern Ireland:
Men … … … 1,285 962 639 707 627
Women … … … 125 107 82 63 30

Regional figures for officer entrants to the three Services and for non-commissioned entrants to Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service are not readily available, as these are recruited centrally. The regional distribution of Service women in the figures above is marginally inaccurate because it has not been possible in the time available to isolate the numbers of recruits to the Women's Royal Naval Service who were recruited in Wales and Northern Ireland. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as amended figures are available.