§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the numbers of officer training entrants into the Dartmouth training college for each year to 1987;
(2) what is his estimate of the numbers of new entrants into the Royal Navy in each year to 1987.
§ Mr. BlakerIn 1981–82 there were approximately 3,500 new entrants to the Royal Navy, of whom just under 600 were officers who joined Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Because recruitment of both officers and ratings depends crucially on levels of retention and other variable factors, it is not possible to predict future levels with confidence.