Plan to axe regiments 'aiding recruitment'

RECRUITMENT to the army in Scotland has increased because of the government's plans to scrap the country's historic infantry regiments, Geoff Hoon claimed yesterday.

Mr Hoon, the former defence secretary, appeared to contradict his former deputy, Adam Ingram, when he said the publicity the plans had attracted had aided recruitment.

Mr Ingram told MPs earlier this year that media coverage of campaigns to save the regiments was putting off would-be recruits.

Mr Hoon, now Leader of the House of Commons, was challenged about recruitment by Stuart Hosie, SNP MP for Dundee East.

"I hope that the excellent recruitment is a result of the tremendous publicity given to the Scottish regiments as a result of the proposals for change," Mr Hoon replied.