§ Mrs. Rumboldasked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the manpower levels in his Department in June 1983; and what are his plans.
§ Mr. PattieUnited Kingdom-based staff in post at the nearest date for the quarterly manpower count was 206,403 at 1 July 1983. This figure includes 18,609 staff employed in the royal ordnance factories. No specific figure is planned for June 1984. But we aim to achieve, or better, the planned manpower figures of 200,000 at 1 April 1984 and 179,000 at 1 April 1985. The reduction of 21,000 in 1984–85 includes the removal of the royal ordnance factory organisation from the Department's strength—about 18,500 staff—following the change to Companies Act status during the course of the year.
In addition to the United Kingdom-based staff at 1 July 1983 the Department employed 33,841 locally engaged civilians overseas; no significant changes are expected to this number over the next 12 months.