Recruitment (Hansard, 22 February 1956)

§ 112. Mr. Wigg
asked the Minister of Defence the number of man-years recruited by the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force, separate figures being given for each Service, in 1950,

MALE RECRUITMENT TO ACTIVE FORCES IN TERMS OF MAN-YEARS^*

1950 to 1955

INITIAL RECRUITMENT

(Including National Service liability)

Service 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955

Navy … … 96,000 100,500 113,000 101,000 83,000 74,000

Army … … 120,000 134,500 178,000 137,000 126,500 112,500

R.A.F … … 106,500 196,000 164,500 140,000 123,500 96,500

Total … 322,500 431,000 455,500 378,000 333,000 283,000

(Excluding National Service liability)

Service 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955

Navy … … 77,500 81,500 93,000 83,500 67,500 59,000

Army … … 86,500 100,000 91,000 72,500 57,000 48,000

R.A.F. … … 69,500 116,500 92,500 84,000 73,000 58,000

Total … 233,500 298,000 276,500 240,000 197,500 165,000

PROLONGATIONS OF SERVICE

Service 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955

Navy … … 15,500 34,500 18,000 21,500 14,000 14,000

Army … … 25,500 52,000 40,500 48,000 68,000 64,000

R.A.F.‡ … … †20,000 †65,500 38,500 46,000 45,500 34,000

Total … 61,000 152,000 97,000 115,500 127,500 112,000

^* The figures given exclude the man-year product of boys and apprentices before entry into the effective strength and of men joining the Army on the special short-service engagements, Types A, B, C, E, K, N, S and T.

† Represents best possible estimate.

‡ Excluding aircrew.

§ 113. Mr. Wigg
asked the Minister of Defence the number of Regular recruits enlisted in the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force during the period 1st January to 31st December, 1955, together with the comparable figures for 1953 and 1954.

§ Sir W. Monckton
The reply:

MALE REGULAR RECRUITS ENTERED IN EACH OF THE SERVICES IN 1953, 1954 AND 1955

— 1953 1954 1955

Royal Navy 9,334 8,111 7,582

Army 42,680 38,895 34,818

Royal Air Force 31,615 27,974 21,135

Total 83,629 74,980 63,535

52W
1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1955, excluding boys and short-service engagements; and if he will give separate figures to show, respectively, when no allowance is made for National Service and when National Service liability is excluded.

§ Sir W. Monckton
The Answer is as follows:

MALE RECRUITMENT TO ACTIVE FORCES IN TERMS OF MAN-YEARS^*
1950 to 1955
INITIAL RECRUITMENT
(Including National Service liability)
Service	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
Navy	…	…	96,000	100,500	113,000	101,000	83,000	74,000
Army	…	…	120,000	134,500	178,000	137,000	126,500	112,500
R.A.F	…	…	106,500	196,000	164,500	140,000	123,500	96,500
Total	…	322,500	431,000	455,500	378,000	333,000	283,000

(Excluding National Service liability)
Service	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
Navy	…	…	77,500	81,500	93,000	83,500	67,500	59,000
Army	…	…	86,500	100,000	91,000	72,500	57,000	48,000
R.A.F.	…	…	69,500	116,500	92,500	84,000	73,000	58,000
Total	…	233,500	298,000	276,500	240,000	197,500	165,000

PROLONGATIONS OF SERVICE
Service	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
Navy	…	…	15,500	34,500	18,000	21,500	14,000	14,000
Army	…	…	25,500	52,000	40,500	48,000	68,000	64,000
R.A.F.‡	…	…	†20,000	†65,500	38,500	46,000	45,500	34,000
Total	…	61,000	152,000	97,000	115,500	127,500	112,000
^* The figures given exclude the man-year product of boys and apprentices before entry into the effective strength and of men joining the Army on the special short-service engagements, Types A, B, C, E, K, N, S and T.
† Represents best possible estimate.
‡ Excluding aircrew.

MALE REGULAR RECRUITS ENTERED IN EACH OF THE SERVICES IN 1953, 1954 AND 1955
—	1953	1954	1955
Royal Navy	9,334	8,111	7,582
Army	42,680	38,895	34,818
Royal Air Force	31,615	27,974	21,135
Total	83,629	74,980	63,535