§ Mr. Steeleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the numbers of lower deck ratings categorised according to rank and branch who signed on to complete time for pension during 1956; what percentage this represents of those eligible to do so; and how those figures compare with 1955.
§ Mr. SoamesI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis) on 13th February in which I explained that men on twelve-year engagements become eligible to re-engage for pension any time after the beginning of their ninth year of adult service, and numbers and percentages given for re-engagements in any one year for pension are, therefore, misleading.
The Answer to the hon. Member's question has been based, therefore, on the normal method of calculation.
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The number of ratings whose first twelve-year engagement was completed in 1956, and who re-engaged to complete time for pension is shown below, together with the percentage of those eligible to do so; and the corresponding figures for 1955. 1956 1955 Branch Numbers re-engaging Percent, of eligible Numbers re-engaging Percent, of eligible Seaman: C.P.O. … 1 100 6 83 P.O. … 102 58 72 53 Ldg. and below … 46 21 42 21 149 37 120 35 Communications: C.P.O. … — — 6 75 P.O. … 32 33 21 17 Ldg. and below … 10 10 7 8 42 21 34 16 Artificers: Chief … 28 41 63 58 Lst-3rd … 259 54 231 50 4th … 7 35 3 25 294 53 297 51 Mechanicians and Artisians: Chief … 1 100 — — 1st … 17 65 21 84 2nd and below … 8 80 23 88 26 70 44 86 Engineering Mechanics: C.P.O. … — — — — P.O. … 44 75 25 56 Ldg. and below … 11 26 15 33 55 55 40 44 Naval Airman: C.P.O. … 16 76 19 76 P.O. … 42 75 24 64 Ldg. and below … 6 38 7 50 64 68 50 65 Electrical C.P.O. … 12 55 19 50 P.O. … 21 29 20 24 Ldg. and below … 6 15 8 17 39 29 47 28 Sick Berth: C.P.O. … — — — — P.O. … 2 40 9 90 Ldg. and below … 4 67 4 80 6 55 13 87 Supply and Secretariat: C.P.O. … 9 75 8 80 P.O. … 14 82 20 83 Ldg. and below … 10 34 12 52 33 57 40 70 Total: C.P.O. … 343 53 373 54 P.O. … 272 53 217 43 Ldg. and below … 93 21 95 23 708 44 685 43