HC Deb 29 January 1985 vol 72 cc151-2W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the Regular, Reserve and total manpower of each of the armed services in the years 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980; and what is his forecast for 1990.

Mr. Lee

The information is as follows:

thousands*
1950 1960 1970 1980
Royal Navy
Regular 116.5 88.4 77.8 64.4
National Service 9.8 0.6
Reserve & Volunteer Forces 70.6‡ 62.8‡ 34.1 32.1
Total 196.9 151.8 111.9 96.5
Royal Marines
Regular 12.0 8.8 8.3 7.6
National Service 0.6
Reserve & Volunteer Forces ‡— ‡— 2.3 3.0
Total 12.6 8.8 10.6 10.6
Army
Regular 192.6 166.3 174.0 159.0
National Service 180.1 98.0
Reserve & Volunteer Forces 143.8 596.5 340.0 203.8
Total 516.7 860.8 514.0 362.8
Royal Air Force
Regular 125.6 145.1 113.0 89.6
National Service 76.0 18.4
Reserve & Volunteer Forces 47.0 192.5 33.6 30.8
Total 248.6 356.0 146.6 120.4
Notes:—
* All figures at 1 April
† Figures exclude locally enlisted personnel
‡ Royal Marine figures included with Royal Navy

It is not the practice to give details of future targets.