HC Deb 01 April 1993 vol 222 c321W
Mrs. Angela Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reach further conclusions about personnel numbers in the Royal Navy.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

As foreshadowed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) on 10 December 1992,Official Report, column 800, I can now confirm that, in the light of the overall reductions required in the Royal Navy, a third phase of Royal Navy redundancies will be necessary in 1994. The maximum overall number is likely to be of the order of 2,300, but further work is needed to determine precise numbers. Detailed terms will be promulgated within the Navy in the summer. We will be encouraging the maximum number of volunteers although some compulsory measures may be needed in order to achieve the proper balance of manpower within the Royal Navy.

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