§ 101. Mr. Iremongerasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average percentage of time spent at sea and ashore, respectively, by naval ratings during their service life at the present time; and what those percentages were in 1950 and 1938, respectively.
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§ Commander NobleAverage percentages would depend upon conditions which might fluctuate considerably over the whole period of a rating's service and could not be given in terms of a single year. Nor would it be possible, without a wholly disproportionate expenditure of effort in examining the records of individuals, to state the proportions for men completing their engagements in particular years. The proportion of male ratings serving afloat at present is 47 per cent., in 1950 it was 49 per cent. The Fleet Air Arm, which is stationed largely ashore, has accounted for 11 per cent. of the total naval strength in recent years. In 1938, 61 per cent. of male ratings were serving afloat.