§ Mr. TrotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy personnel are currently serving in sea-going posts; how many will be so serving after the planned reduction in the number of ships in the fleet; and, in each case, what percentage of the personnel strength of the Royal Navy will be in sea-going appointments.
§ Mr. HanleyThere are currently 18,240 trained RN and WRNS personnel serving in sea-going appointments. This 453W represents some 38 per cent. of the total trained manpower. The manpower requirement beyond 1995 will be kept under review in the light of changing circumstances, but it is expected that the proportion of sea-going appointments will remain broadly the same.