§ 22. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve the recruiting of young Service men and civilian apprentices for the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. WellbelovedRecruiting requirements for all three Services are higher in 1978–79 than they have been in recent years, and, as usual, a substantial proportion of those recruited will be young Service men. There will, therefore, be increased opportunities for the recruitment of young Service men. On the civil side, the Ministry of Defence intends to recruit approximately 2,300 civilian apprentices in September 1978, 500 more than originally planned, reflecting the Government's desire to increase employment opportunities for young people and to ensure an adequate supply of skilled craftsmen in the 1980s.