Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average time spent at sea by(a) chief petty officers and petty officers, (b) leading ratings and (c) able ratings.
§ Mr. NeubertAverage sea time (that time during which a rating is drafted to an operational ship) is currently:
Per cent. Chief petty officers and petty officers 42 Leading rates 59 Able rates 64 It does not follow, however, that such time is spent entirely at sea; ships spend a proportion of their operational time at their base ports.