§ Mr. Hicksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of Royal Navy ratings, male, currently under training at HMS "Raleigh", Torpoint, the corresponding numbers for April 1981 and September 1981 and the projected figures for January and March 1982; and if he will make a statement about future requirements.
§ Mr. WigginOn 9 November 1981 there were 727 male Royal Navy ratings under training at HMS "Raleigh". This compares with 1,128 on 7 September 1981 and 1,286 on 6 April 1981. The reasons for the reductions in Royal Navy rating recruitment are set out in the latest MOD news release of "Service Manpower Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library. Details of numbers recruited in the period October 1981 to March 1982 will be similarly published in due course. As regards future requirements for Royal Navy training establishments, I would refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend on 1 July 1981—[Vol. 7, c.425.]