HC Deb 06 February 1963 vol 671 cc433-4
18. Mr. Lipton

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many men were serving in the Royal Navy at the beginning of 1939; how many of them were admirals; and what the corresponding figures are today.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The total male strength at 31st March, 1939, was 122.500 including 84 admirals; at 31st March this year total male strength expected to be 94,000 including 75 admirals.

Mr. Lipton

Do not these figures in all their stark simplicity indicate a somewhat top-heavy and unseaworthy superstructure which is calculated to encourage our enemies and dishearten our friends?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I do not think it does. Since before the war we have got international defence organisations which require more admirals and more staff. We have also an enormous expansion of air power. So the two figures are not strictly comparable. I am glad that the hon. Member has now dropped the line he has peddled for some time, that we have more admirals than ships. This is obviously totally untrue on the figures I have given, Captain Litchfield: Do the numbers of admirals include non-executive officers or are they limited to the seamen branch?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

No. They do, of course, include non-executive officers. That is another reason why the two figures are not strictly comparable.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Would the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the ratio of admirals to ships at the moment?

Mr. On-Ewing

if the right hon. Gentleman will study the Explanatory Statement he will find that there are 248 ships and these include ships at trials and for training, and support ships, and he can no doubt do the sum more quickly than I.

21. Miss Vickers

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty by what number the personnel of the Royal Navy, both Service and civilian, will be increased in view of the new defence policy.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

I cannot yet give my hon. Friend any firm estimate of the increases we shall need.

Miss Vickers

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Answer, may I ask him whether he will look into this in the very near future, in view of the reply given previously that we have a 3 per cent. shortage of recruits already? Because of the possibility that such submarines will each need two crews of 100 each, and we are short of technicians, surely this is a very pressing problem?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

Yes, we are looking into all these problems. The whole Polaris project raises an immense number of questions and it will require time for them to be resolved.

Mr. Lipton

May we have the assurance that whatever shortage exists in the various arms of the naval Service there is not likely to be any shortage of admirals for many years ahead?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

I am sure that there are many people in the Royal Navy well worthy of being promoted to admiral.