HC Deb 06 March 1990 vol 168 c613W
48. Mr. Hanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum and average length of tour of duty for personnel serving on(a) surface and (b) submarine duty.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The normal maximum length of continuous sea service for a rating is 30 months (plus or minus three months), with a current average for both the surface and submarine flotillas of 21 months. For officers, the current policy is that sea appointments should not exceed two years or, when in command, 21 months. The current average is about 19 months.