§ 1. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans to axe officers of the three Services.
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Frederick Mulley)On present plans, about 1,000 officers will be leaving the Services on redundancy between now and the end of the decade.
§ Mr. WallWill the Secretary of State confirm that he intends to axe 182 out of 500 naval commanders? Is he aware that these continual cuts, allied with the disparity of Services pay in relation to industry—it is now some 20 per cent. below that of industry—are having a very grave effect on the morale of all three Services?
§ Mr. MulleyThese redundancies arise from the defence review and are being phased to have the minimum disturbance, although, naturaily, everyone is disturbed when good officers and men leave the Services. That is why I was particularly glad to be able to continue 41 Commando, because I thought it would be in the national interest so to do. I am advised that only 50 officer redundancies are scheduled for the Royal Navy in the period between now and 1980, and, as the hon. Member knows, most of the people leaving are volunteers.