§ 42. Commander Nobleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many ratings and other ranks of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines completed their first period of service during the past 12 months; how many of these have signed on to complete their time for pension; and of these what proportion were chief and petty officers and equivalent ranks.
§ Mr. J. DugdaleDuring the 12 months ended 30th September, 1948, 3,480 naval ratings completed their first period of continuous service. Of these, approximately 23 per cent. were chief petty officers and 54 per cent. petty officers. The number already reported as having re-engaged is 833, of whom 38 per cent. are chief and 51 per cent. petty officers. There are, however, a number of reports outstanding and it is expected that the numbers finally reported as re-engaging will be about 970. I regret that the corresponding figures for the Royal Marines are not readily available, but I will write to the hon. Member when they have been obtained.
§ Commander NobleCan the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what he considers are the reasons for about only one-third of these men remaining in the Service?
§ Mr. DugdaleI am not so certain that that is not a fairly satisfactory proportion.
§ Commander MaitlandCan the hon. Gentleman say how these figures compare with those for 1947, or give us some indication of whether the tendency is better or worse?
§ Mr. DugdaleNot without notice.