94. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Defence what will be the numbers of men and women in the Services at 31st December, 1947, on the completion of the provisional release programme to that date, given the continuation of the present rate of call-up and voluntary recruitment.
§ Mr. BellengerI have been asked to reply. It is estimated that the numbers of men and women in the Services at 31st December, 1947, will amount approximately to 1,150,000 but, as my hon. Friend is aware, the general question of the strength of the Armed Forces in the remainder of the financial year is still under consideration.
§ Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Defence if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statistical analysis of the 41W strength of, the three Services on 30th June, 1947, or, at the latest date for which figures are available, stating the numbers of officers and men in each Service who are on Regular engagements and the numbers of men in each Service who have enlisted
—— R.N. and R.M. Army. R.A.F. All Services (1) Strength: Male all ranks 180,700 773,600 284,500 1,238,800 (2) Women's Services 7,400 32,600 22,500 62,500 (3) Total 188,100 806,200 307,000 1,301,300 (4) Male Officers (normal or short service Commissions) 14,570 23,030 9,680 47,280 (5) Male other ranks on regular engagements 92,520 123,400 76,960 292,880 Male regular strength 107,090 146,430 86,640 340,160 For details of recruiting in the first half of the year, I would refer my hon. Friend to the quarterly recruiting returns made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence. The return for March quarter, 1947, was given on 20th May in answer to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for North Blackpool (Brigadier Low) and that for June quarter, 1947, was placed in the Vote Office on 24th July.