§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the types of (a) advancement training, (b) career training and (c) special training given to a man before he joins a particular ship other than that concerned with operational efficiency, which are to be cut in order to save manpower; and why these cuts were not made before if they do not effect the Royal Navy's operational capability or the career advancement of personnel.
§ Mr. DuffyOver 250 courses will be affected by the reductions in naval shore training applied to career training,68W advancement training, and special training given to a man before he joins a particular ship. It would be neither practicable nor illuminating to list all the courses in detail, since they are affected by the reductions in different ways: in length, in content, or in throughput of trainees. The overall reduction in the trained strength committed to training is designed to reflect the reduced future manning levels of the Fleet, as well as the increased emphasis which is being placed on on-the-job training and on specialist training which has hitherto been given more generally. The current reductions are no more than an extension of the process of redefining the support requirements of the forces which has been continuing since the last war.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many teaching and administrative personnel will be saved as a result of the 10 per cent. cut in teaching and administrative personnel in Royal Naval training establishments; and how this total can be diveded in percentage terms between the reduction in the number of personnel serving in the Royal Navy and the reduction in training for the survivors.
§ Mr. DuffyEight hundred and thirty-nine. This reduction in the Royal Navy's support area concerned with training ispro rata with the reduction in the size of the Fleet stemming from the 1974 defence review.