Frank Field (1942–2024) was the most independent-minded member of Parliament of his time, genuinely prepared to stand alone on a number of crucial issues. He was also a devout churchman who was motivated in his politics by that faith, especially in a commitment to the poorest people in society. His commitment in that direction was shown early in his work for the Child Poverty Action Group, which he directed from 1969 to 1979. He was a Member of Parliament for Birkenhead for 40 years.

• Introduction: Frank Field 1. Making Sense of the Unemployment Figures Frank Field 2. Who Are the Unemployed? Louie Burghes 3. Unemployment and Poverty Frank Field 4. Control Measures Against Abuse Frank Field 5. Poverty and Unemployment in Liverpool Clare Dennehy and Jill Sullivan 6. The Cost of Unemployment Louie Burghes and Frank Field 7. What Price Unemployment? Chris Pond 8. Causes of Unemployment Steve Hannah 9. Government Action Against Unemployment Frank Field and Stephen Winyard 10. The Return to Full Employment Frank Field.

Original Reviews of The Conscript Army: ‘Not the least of the qualities of this book is that its objective and restrained approach does not obscure the obvious concern and commitment of the writers to focus public attention on the issues posed.’ Phyllis Willmott, The Times Literary Supplement‘Each essay is clearly and powerfully argued…’ A. Deacon, Journal of Social Policy, Volume 8, Issue 1, (1979).