HC Deb 21 March 1977 vol 928 c440W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total Service and civilian manpower of the RAF, and the ratio of total Service and civilian personnel to front line aircraft in 1956, 1966 and 1976, respectively.

Mr. Wellbeloved

The total of RAF Service and civilian manpower at 31st December 1976 was 122,059.

The ratio between manpower and aircraft strengths was as follows:

31st December 1957: 91:1
31st December 1966: 89:1
31st December 1976: 82:1

Information for any period earlier than 31st December 1957 is not readily available. It is not our practice to give frontline aircraft numbers, and the ratios have been calculated on the basis of total aircraft strengths in RAF flying units. As well as operational aircraft, these include training, communications and miscellaneous aircraft.