§ 3. Commander Nobleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present estimated intake of National Service men into the Royal Navy for 1949 and 1950, respectively; and how many of these will be trained as seamen.
Mr. DugdaleThe intake of National Service men into the Royal Navy in 1949 and 1950 is still under examination.
§ Commander NobleCannot the Minister give us an answer to this now? How are we to know how the Naval Reserve is to be built up without knowing these figures?
Mr. J. P. L. ThomasMay I ask the Financial Secretary if he is aware that it has been under consideration a long time now, and as questions have been 832 asked repeatedly in this House on this subject, is it not high time an answer was given?
§ Commander GalbraithCould the hon. Gentleman indicate whether it is 10,000 or 20,000? Could he give some such rough indication to the House?
§ Commander GalbraithIn view of the small number of National ex-Service men, can the hon. Gentleman say how he proposes to establish an adequate reserve for the Royal Navy?
§ Commander MaitlandIn view of the great importance of this and its effect on the reserves of the Navy, could not the hon. Gentleman give a date on which he could make a statement to the House about the whole situation?
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteThe Minister speaks of the intake of National Service men this year; is it not the case that there is none this year?
§ Commander NobleI beg to give notice that in view of the fact that we have been asking this Question for at least a year, and to give the Minister some chance of making a reply, I will endeavour to raise the matter on the Adjournment.