§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish details of any shortfall in the numbers of officers serving in the Royal Navy by rank.
§ Mr. DuffyAt 1st April 1978, shortfalls in the various ranks among officers in the Royal Navy were as follows:
Captains 17 Commanders 22 Lieutenant Commanders 5 Lieutenants 457 Surgeon Commanders 4 Surgeon Lieutenant Commanders and Surgeon Lieutenants 30 Dental officers of all ranks 10 Chaplains 11 (I regret that figures are not available for shortfalls in the numbers of officers below the rank of lieutenant.
These shortfalls do not necessarily mean that a comparable number of complemented posts are left unfilled.