§ Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ How many recruits to the infantry they anticipate will join in the next six months. [HL3513]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): It is anticipated that some 1,400 recruits will begin their training with the infantry over the next six months.
§ Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 28 June (WA 5), how many individuals who have successfully passed through the recruit selection process for the infantry have been given a date to commence phase one (basic) training after a delay of more than two months; and how many individuals are expected to pass through the selection process but will not commence their phase one (basic) training for over two months in 2004. [HL3514]
§ Lord Bach:The number of infantry recruits who have been given a training commencement date longer than two months from their date of attestation in 2004 is 467. Of these, some would have requested a delay before starting training due to personal commitments such as jobs, education and holidays. It should be noted that there is a two-month gap between intakes to Parachute Regiment courses due to their popularity, which results in recruits to the Parachute Regiment automatically having a two-month delay before entering training. If Parachute Regiment figures are excluded, the number of infantry recruits who have a training commencement date in excess of two months is reduced to 352.
Until all current candidates have successfully completed their selection process at recruit selection centres (RSC), it is impossible to say how many will not begin their basic training for over two months. Once a potential recruit has successfully passed RSC, they will be allocated on to the first available phase 1 course that is being run for their chosen career employment group and the time involved may of course vary considerably.