§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel are at present serving on sea-going ships; what percentage this is of the total strength of the Royal Navy; how many of the 8,000 to 10,000 reduction in manpower will be in sea-going posts; and what will be the percentage of the total strength in such posts after the reduction.
§ Mr. GoodhartAs at 31 March 1981, some 24,000 officers and men of the Royal Navy were serving in ships and submarines, approaching 40 per cent. of RN strength. The 8,000 to 10,000 reduction in total manpower by 1986 will be achieved partly through the surface fleet contraction, but the greater part of the reduction will be made by cutting down on shore numbers. Detailed manpower requirements are under review; precise percentages are not available at this stage.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy Personnel are at present serving in submarines; and how many will be so serving in 1986.
§ Mr. GoodhartAs at 31 March 1981, almost 4,000 officers and men were serving in submarines. By 1986 it is estimated that, with the build up of the submarine fleet, this number will rise by over 10 per cent.