HC Deb 10 December 1958 vol 597 cc324-5
17. Mr. Atkins

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of the officers and ratings in the Royal Navy are, at the latest convenient date, appointed to a seagoing ship of the operational Fleet.

Mr. R. Allan

In June, 1958, the proportion of officers and ratings appointed to a seagoing ship of the operational Fleet was 46 per cent. Those serving afloat under training have been excluded from these calculations.

Mr. Atkins

Does my hon. Friend consider it possible to keep the Royal Navy at maximum efficiency with less than half the personnel serving with the Fleet; and does he expect this proportion to go up or down?

Mr. Allan

My hon. Friend will remember that last week I told him that seamen officers and ratings expect to spend 60 per cent. of their time afloat in the seagoing fleet. The lower percentage that I had to give him today takes into account all the various technical branches who, naturally, spend less of their time at sea. We are, of course, doing everything we can to increase sea time for officers and men, and the proportion should increase.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, ten years ago, 57 per cent. were at sea, whereas today, apparently, the percentage is very much smaller? Does he think it right that there should be more and more men shore-based and less and less at sea? Is this the right kind of progress for the Royal Navy?

Mr. Allan

The right hon. Gentleman is not correct in saying that. The figure of 57 per cent. again was the seaman figure, and I would say that, at the moment, it has gone up; it is 60 per cent. I was answering today about the overall figure, which includes all the technical branches, and that is 46 per cent.