HC Deb 31 May 1961 vol 641 cc29-30W
Mr. John Hall

asked the Minister of Defence what was the average strength of British personnel in the Regular armed forces, including British troops on the Indian Establishment, during the period 1929 to 1938; and how this compares with the present target for an all-Regular force.

Mr. Watkinson

The average strength for the period 1929 to 1938 was 321,600. This was made up of 92,200 in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, 194,700 in the Army (including British troops on the Indian Establishment) and 34,700 in the Royal Air Force. The present target for an all-Regular force is of the order of 88,000 for the Royal Navy, 165,000 to about 180,000 for the Army and 135,000 for the Royal Air Force, a total of 388,000 to about 403,000. These figures exclude boys and women.