HC Deb 04 April 1977 vol 929 cc365-6W
Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures for the number of Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force recruiting offices in the United Kingdom; and what are the latest estimates of the costs of running these offices.

Mr. Wellbeloved

There are at present 288 premises, including 11 in which all three Services are represented and 47 are shared by two Services. Within these premises there are 65 Royal Navy, 219 Army and 73 Royal Air Force careers information offices—full-time and part-time. The estimated cost of these offices in terms of staff and rentals, in the financial year 1976–77 is about £10 million.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures for the average number of recruitment inquiries made per week at Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force recruiting offices; and in how many of these offices there were on average fewer than 10 inquiries a week.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Latest figures available show that on average 1,680 recruitment inquiries were received per week at Royal Navy and Royal Marines careers information offices (CIOs); 3,066 at Army CIOs; and 2,657 at Royal Air Force CIOs. At 71 CIOs an average of less than 10 inquiries per week was received, but 67 of these are out-station offices, some of which are open for only a few hours a week.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures for the average number of recruits per week enlisted through Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force recruiting offices; and in how many of these offices the average number of recruits enlisted was fewer than five, fewer than three and fewer than one.

Mr. Wellbeloved

In the past year the average number of recruits enlisted per week at Royal Navy and Royal Marines, Army, and RAF careers information offices (CIOs) was 161, 459 and 125, respectively.

The average number of enlistments per week was less than five at 41 CIOs, less than three at 222 and less than one at 57. About 200 of these are out-station offices, some of which are open for only a few hours a week.