§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the turnover of young people in Territorial units in the south-west; and what steps are proposed to attract youngsters of the right calibre.
§ Mr. FreemanFigures on the turnover of young people in territorial units in the south-west are not held centrally and cannot be provided without a disproportionate amount of effort. The current overall turnover for the Territorial Army is 34.33 per cent. per annum. The Terrritorial Army is open to men between the ages of 17½ and 56, depending on the type of unit they wish to join, the type of engagement and their previous military experience. There are two types of engagement for youngsters who are too young to join as adult soldiers; the young soldier who may join at between 17 and 17½, and the junior soldier who may in limited numbers enlist at594W ages between 15 and 17 amongst others as trumpeters, buglers, drummers, pipers or bandsmen. Young men reaching the end of their Army Cadet Force service are encouraged to enlist into the Territorial Army.