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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) establishment strength, (b) actual strength and (c) level of undermanning in percentage terms of establishment against actual strength was for the (i) Highlanders, (ii) Black Watch, (iii) Royal Scots, (iv) Royal Highland Fusiliers, (v) King's Own Scottish Borderers, (vi) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (vii) Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and (viii) Scots Guards on 1 November; what initiatives are under way in Scotland to address issues of (A) recruitment and (B) retention; and if he will make a statement. [18931] Mr. Ingram: The establishment and actual strengths and level of undermanning in percentage terms for each of the Scottish regiments listed is shown in the table. We recognise the need to maximise recruiting levels across the Army as whole. The Army launched a major recruiting campaign in autumn 2000 aimed at targeting a more diverse and well-qualified audience as well as encouraging those who have already expressed an interest in the Army as a career to make the commitment. We are also aiming at reducing the number of recruits withdrawing during training by combining Phase I and Phase II Infantry Training. As part of the overall recruiting campaign, the Army appointed a Glasgow recruiting company, Search, to manage all the Army's recruitment in the Glasgow area for an initial one-year trial period from the beginning of April 2001. Search will undertake promotional and marketing activity to highlight the many different career opportunities available in the Army with the aim of boosting the numbers of young people choosing the Army as a career. Retention levels among soldiers have held steady over the last 12 months or so. However, we are not relaxing our efforts in this area and have introduced several Operational welfare initiatives including: Guaranteed Post Operational tour leave, electronic blueys and 20 minutes free telephone call per week for personnel on Operations. We also recognise the importance of providing soldiers and their families a decent standard of accommodation and have several projects in hand to effect improvements to current housing stock. Scottish regiments as at 1 November 2001 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Establishment Strength Percentage Scots Dragoon Guards 590 498 -15.6 One Scots Guards 620 687 +10.8 One Royal Scots 620 512 -17.4 One Royal Highland Fusiliers 620 544 -12.3 One Kings Own Scottish Borderers 620 642 +3.5 One Black Watch 741 640 -13.6 One Highlanders 667 {1}614 -7.9 One Argyll and Sutherland 620 593 -4.4 Highlanders _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Includes 108 personnel in the Gurkha Reinforcement Company (GRC).

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

18931; 376 c455-6W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Army Recruitment Staff Scotland Vacancies Black Watch Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Royal Scots Dragoon Guards King's Own Scottish Borderers Royal Scots Royal Highland Fusiliers Scots Guards Highlanders

Link

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