§ Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many short service commission officers have been subsequently placed in industry through the SSC/CBI scheme in each year since the scheme's inception; and whether he is currently satisfied with its operation.
§ Dr. GilbertYoung men who join the Army under the SSC/CBI scheme may leave to join a civilian firm at any time from completion of a three year commission until reaching the age of 30. It is left to the young officer to create and maintain contact with a firm and this coupled with the wide time span of the scheme has prevented the collection of accurate statistics of those who subsequently found employment with CBI companies
16WIt is, however, indicative that a survey of Service men leaving the Armed Forces in 1968 showed that on average 44 per cent. took some form of pre-release settlement training. Currently the figure is over 75 per cent. This is in addition to the resettlement interview which is mandatory for all Service men with more than six years service, and to the advice courses and briefings made available within the Armed Forces.
Perhaps the most important trends in this field over the last decade are the growing demand for second career training and the increasingly close links between all the various agencies involved.
Further details of the resettlement services available to those leaving the Forces are contained in the 1978 edition of the resettlement handbook, and I have arranged to place a copy in the Library.