HC Deb 20 November 1945 vol 416 cc219-21
80. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE
1. RELEASES AND DISCHARGES FROM THE FORCES AND AUXILIARY AND NURSING SERVICES,
18TH JUNE TO 31ST OCTOBER, 1945.
Service. Class A. Class B. Other Releases and Discharges. Total.
MEN.
Royal Navy … 65,316 2,032 14,388 81,736
Army … 277,475 26,593 68,838 372,906
Royal Air Force … 106,530 9,941 18,641 135,112
Total … 449.321 38,566 101,867 589,754
WOMEN.
Royal Navy … 13,568 7 2,597 16,172
Army … 52,511 137 9,084 61,732
Royal Air Force … 36,093 82 7,625 43,800
Total … 102,172 226 19,306 121,704
TOTAL MEN AND WOMEN.
Royal Navy … 78,884 2,039 16,985 97,908
Army … 329,986 26,730 77,922 434.638
Royal Air Force … 142,623 10,023 26,266 178,912
Total … 551,493 38,792* 121,173 711,458
* Individual specialist releases included in. the total number 1,656 men and 29 women.

men and women demobilised from 1st October to the latest convenient date, for all Services.

Mr. Isaacs

During October, 257,127 men and 23,022 women, making a total of 280,149, have been reported as released or discharged from the Forces and Auxiliary Services. This shows an increase of 131,993 over the total for September. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving details for each of the Services.

Mr. Callaghan

Does the Minister think, from the number of people now going through the centres, that he will reach his target of 1,500,000 by 31st December?

Mr. Isaacs

I hesitate to give a guarantee, but there is every prospect that that will be done.

Major Wyatt

How many per week will the Minister have to release by the end of the year in order to achieve that target, seeing that he had only released 70,000 a week up to the end of October?

Mr. Isaacs

I could not give that figure. Somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 is as near as I can do so.

Following is the statement:

II. RELEASES AND DISCHARGES FROM THE FORCES AND AUXILIARY AND NURSING SERVICES DURING OCTOBER, 1945.
Service. Class A. Class B. Other Releases and Discharges. Total.
MEN.
Royal Navy … 21,957 901 3,649 26,507
Army … 121,560 15,488 38,696* 175,744
Royal Air Force: … 46,529 4,279 4,068 54,876
Total … 190,046 20,668 46,413 257,127
WOMEN.
Royal Navy … 2,782 4 490 3,276
Army … 6,814 110 3,194* 10,118
Royal air force … 8,518 64 1,046 9,628
Total … 18,114 178 4,730 23,022
TOTAL MEN AND WOMEN.
Royal navy … 24,739 905 4,139 29,783
Army … 128,374 15,598 41,890* 185,862
Royal air force … 55,047 4,343 5,114 64,504
Total … 208,160 20,846 51,143 280,149
* The basis on which this figure is compiled has been changed. It includes a number of cases where paid leave on release or discharge began before 1st October but such cases were not included in the September figures.
Ministry of Labour and National Service.
8, St. James's Square, S.W.1
November, 1945.