§ 56. Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department does not keep figures showing the number of officers in the Army and the corresponding women's service, respectively, who began their service in the ranks, other than those who enlisted as potential officers; and whether he will take steps to obtain such figures.
§ Mr. HattersleyArmy officers who have served in the ranks will have been commissioned in one of seven ways and may be serving in any arm of the Service. It would only be possible to obtain the precise figures for which the question asks 315W by analysing the records of all officers in the Army. I am considering if the work involved in such a process would be of benefit, and I will write to my hon. Friend.