HC Deb 20 January 1954 vol 522 c979
1. Mr. Dugdale

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the percentage of men in the Royal Navy who are now shore-based.

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas)

Some 30 per cent. of the officers and men in the Royal Navy are engaged on Fleet Air Arm duties ashore or are under training or employed in training establishments and consequently have, in the nature of their duties, to serve ashore. Of the remainder, almost two-thirds are at sea and just over one-third are shore-based.

Mr. Dugdale

I am afraid it is rather difficult to follow those figures straight away. Can we be told the total percentage on Vote A who are shore-based?

Mr. Thomas

I am afraid I have not the total figures on Vote A. All I can tell the right hon. Gentleman is that there has been some improvement and that I hope for greater improvement still. I hope for better things, for the position does not yet satisfy me. There has been an improvement over the past two years.