§ Mr. P. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Defence how many men there will be in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, respectively, on 31st March, 1957; how man women there will be on that date in these forces; and how many men there will be in Colonial Forces for which Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are responsible.
§ Mr. SandysThe information required is contained in the following table:—
ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE ACTIVE FORCES ON 31ST MARCH, 1957 (1) Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force Men Women Total Navy … 111,800 3,700 115,500 Army … 367,100 6,200 373,300 Royal Air Force … 224,700 5,300 230,000 703,600 15,200 718,800 (2) Colonial Forces 20,300 NOTE: In addition there will be about 17,000 men locally enlisted in Colonial Territories for service in the British Forces and about 14,000 other troops (Ghurkas, Trucial Oman Scouts and Central African Federation troops on loan to the British Army) under the operational control of the United Kingdom Government.