§ 49. Commander Courtneyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the latest figures for re-engagement in the Royal Navy; and what progress is being made in the recruitment, training and retention of naval aircrew.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAs my hon. Friend has already made plain, we are not satisfied with the R.N. re-engagement situation, but it is too early to say whether the incentives announced in mid-March will have the desired effect. The position regarding recruitment, training and 211W retention of naval aircrew has not changed materially from that described in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1965, but a new advertising campaign has been launched and the application and entry rates have improved slightly. Measures to improve the conditions of service for naval aircrew officers are under active consideration.