HC Deb 31 January 1963 vol 670 c234W
Mr. Wigg

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of units, expressed as a percentage of the whole, by arms of the Service, which on 1st January, 1963, were below the peace establishment.

Mr. Profumo

The position in the "teeth arms" on 1st January, 1963, was as follows:

  • Royal Armoured Corps—Five regiments between 23 and 33 short of establishment.
  • Royal Artillery—Fifteen regiments between 25 and 50 short of establishment.
  • Royal Engineers—All units up to establishment.
  • Royal Signals—This Corps has very many small units and sub-units: 36 of them had significant shortages.
  • Infantry—Eighteen battalions between 50 and 100 short of establishment. Twelve battalions over 100 short of establishment.
In all arms the position will improve substantially in the next few months.

I have given the answer in this form because to have provided it in any other way, without a lot of background information, might have been misleading.