Defence Secretary John Healey indicated he was interested in conscription as he met Norwegian soldiers who are undertaking national service in Kirkenes, near the Russian border with Norway.At a border patrol station in north-east Norway, the Defence Secretary told the conscripts: "We have no conscription in the UK."I'm really interested you have conscription but you have it as a competition."You are not told to come into the military, you apply. Not everybody has an opportunity."The conscripted

Defence Secretary John Healey indicated he was interested in conscription as he met Norwegian soldiers who are undertaking national service in Kirkenes, near the Russian border with Norway.At a border patrol station in north-east Norway, the Defence Secretary told the conscripts: "We have no conscription in the UK."I'm really interested you have conscription but you have it as a competition."You are not told to come into the military, you apply. Not everybody has an opportunity."The conscripted soldiers told Mr Healey about their work patrolling the nearly 200km border with Russia.