HC Deb 16 July 1952 vol 503 c2154
58. Dr. Bennett

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what response he has received from volunteers for the Royal Naval Mine-watching Service in the areas adjacent to the approaches to our greater mercantile seaports especially London, Southampton, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Commander Noble

Applications for enrolment in the Royal Naval Mine Watching Service in the areas adjacent to the main sea ports now amount to the following percentages of the full peace complement:—Southampton, 90 per cent.; London, 29 per cent.; Liverpool and Manchester, 23 per cent., and Clyde, 7 per cent. Over the country as a whole, applications now amount to about 20 per cent. of the full peace complement, and numbers are increasing steadily.

Dr. Bennett

While Hampshire is apparently doing as well as might be expected, can my hon. and gallant Friend say if this service is getting as much publicity as is desirable in view of the fact that it is as every bit as important as the Royal Observer Corps?

Commander Noble

First of all, I should like to congratulate Southampton. I think the publicity given to this new service at its start was considerable, and I am very glad of the opportunity of saying again today that we attach great importance to it and hope that as more equipment and more exercises come forward, the volunteers also will come forward.