HC Deb 12 August 1947 vol 441 c2236
10. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the 700,000 men and women in the Armed Forces at home are Army personnel; how many of these men and women are regarded as trained personnel; and what is their rôle.

Mr. Bellenger

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence in the course of the Debate on the Adjournment this morning.

Mr. Wyatt

Is it not a fact that this figure is really nearer 800,000, and can the Minister explain why the Government find it necessary to have double the number of men at home at the moment than the total of the Forces of all three Services before the war?

Mr. Bellenger

The answer to the first part of that supplementary question is that I do not think it is nearer 800,000. In answer to the second part of the question, I think my right hon. Friend dealt with that this morning.