§ Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the numbers and percentage comparisons of officers and men demobilised from the Royal Navy in the middle of 1946 and 1947, and of civilian workers discharged from dockyards and other naval establishments by the same dates, with an estimate of the position in both categories at 1st January next.
Mr. DugdaleBetween 18th June, 1945, when the Release Scheme came into force and 1st July, 1946, 498,000 officers and men were released from the Royal Navy and a further 193,000 were released between 1st July, 1946, and 1st July, 1947. It is estimated that a further 41,000 will be released by 1st January, 1948. It would not be possible to give the figures for civilian discharges over the same period without expending an undue amount of time and labour, but details based on—(a) the reductions in the total number of officers and men serving in the Royal Navy on 18th June, 1945; (b) the 282W reductions in the total number of civilians employed on 1st July, 1945, are as follows:
NAVAL OFFICERS AND MEN. Date. Numbers serving. Reduction on Numbers serving on 18th June, 1945. Percentage Reduction. 18th June, 1945 790,000 — — 1st July, 1946 349,000 441,000 55.8 1st July, 1947 188,000 602,000 76.2 1st January, 1948 162,000* 628,000* 79.5*
INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL CIVILIANS SERVING IN THE ADMIRALTY, ROYAL DOCKYARDS, AND NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS (excluding local entrants abroad). Date. Numbers borne. Reduction on numbers borne on 1st July, 1945 Percentage Reduction. 1st July 1945 209,000 — — 1st July, 1946 153,000 56,000 26.8 1st July, 1947 138,000 71,000 34.4 1st January, 1948 132,000* 77,000* 36.8* * Estimated. Conditions arising from the aftermath of war, and the rapid run down of the naval forces, have resulted in the slower percentage reduction in the number of civilian employees, both industrial and non-industrial.