HC Deb 24 February 1975 vol 887 cc40-1W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Royal Air Force helicopter pilots receive fixed-wing training to a more sophisticated level than Royal Naval helicopter pilots; and whether he will economise by concentrating the training for both Services on a cheaper aircraft such as the Bulldog now used for this purpose by the Royal Navy.

Mr. William Rodgers

Royal Navy pilots are recruited to specialise on helicopters, and the fixed-wing training they receive is to provide basic experience in flying and airmanship by a cheaper method than training by helicopter from the outset. Royal Air Force pilots are not recruited as specialist helicopter aircrew. They are all trained as qualified fixed-wing pilots and then selected for an operational role, a number becoming helicopter pilots. The requirement for basic fixed-wing training is therefore different in the two Services and it is not practicable for it to be concentrated for both Services on a cheaper aircraft such as the Bulldog.

Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force
1. Medical Services
Lieutenant General (or equivalent) … … 1 1 1
Major General (or equivalent) … … … 3 7 5
Brigadier (or equivalent) … … … … 2 11 15
Other Officers … … … … … 420 865 672
Total Officers … … … … … 426 884 693
2. Dental Services
Lieutenant General (or equivalent) … … — — —
Major General (or equivalent) … … … 1 1 1
Brigadier (or equivalent) … … … … — 2 2
Other Officers … … … … … 99 207 129
Total Officers … … … … … 100 210 132

Mr. Trotter

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the posts held by officers in the medical and dental branches of each of the three Services

ROYAL NAVY
Rank Post
Medical:
Surgeon Vice-Admiral … … Medical Director General (Navy).
Surgeon Rear Admiral … Medical Officer-in-Charge, RN Hospital, Haslar*.
Medical Officer-in-Charge, RN Hospital, Stonehouse†.
Dean of Naval Medicine, Institute of Naval Medicine.
Surgeon Commodore … … Director of Health and Research.
Director of Medical Personnel and Logistics.
Dental:
Surgeon Rear Admiral (Dental) Director of Naval Dental Services.
* To be Surgeon Rear Admiral (Naval Hospitals) from 1st July 1975.
† To be Surgeon Rear Admiral (Ships and Establishments) from 1st September 1975.
ARMY
Rank Post
Medical:
Lieutenant General … … Director General of Army Medical Services.
Major General … … … Deputy Director of Army Medical Services.
Director of Medical Services United Kingdom Land Forces.
Director of Medical Services British Army of the Rhine.
Commandant and Post-Graduate Dean, Royal Army Medical College.
Director of Army Psychiatry.
Director of Army Medicine.
Director of Army Surgery.