HC Deb 11 April 1989 vol 150 cc505-6W
8. Mr. Clay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve retention rates in the Royal Navy.

37. Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve retention rates in the Royal Navy.

47. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve retention rates in the Royal Navy.

50. Mr. Ron Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve retention rates in the Royal Navy.

Mr. Neubert

Present emphasis is on alleviating the effects of time spent at sea. We introduced last October a long service at sea bonus—now to become a monthly allowance—and are giving the seagoer financial help so that he can get home more often. Maximum notice of impending seagoing appointments and drafts is given, to help domestic and personal planning, and we prescribe minimum periods ashore between sea drafts.

More generally, a tri-service review was recently conducted aimed at making allowances more relevant to current and prospective needs. The effect, over a period, should be beneficial to retention.

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