HL Deb 28 April 1980 vol 408 cc1125-6WA
Lord HARRIS of GREENWICH

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many officers and other ranks were serving in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1980; and how many were serving in each of these Services in 1937, 1944 and 1947 respectively.

Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYAL

The strengths of Service personnel (including the Nursing Services) at 1st March 1980 (the latest available date) were:

Royal Navy Royal Marines Army Royal Air Force
Officers 9,522 619 17,074 14,761
Servicemen/Servicewomen 54,907 6,909 142,368 74,522

The available strength figures for 1944 and 1947 are not on a comparable basis. Separate numbers for officers and for servicemen and servicewomen are not available; and the Nursing Services' numbers cannot be allocated to the appropriate Service. Following are the available figures:

Royal Navy Royal Marines Army Royal Air Force Nursing Services
1st January 1944 821,000 2,884,000 1,176,000 18,000
1st January 1947 219,000 897,000 343,000 6,000

Strength figures for 1937 are not available without disproportionate effort.

House adjourned at four minutes before ten o'clock.