HC Deb 13 March 1995 vol 256 cc354-5W
Mr. Peter Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the numbers of commissioned officers of each rank in the Royal Navy, differentiating between male and female officers of equivalent rank and indicating how many of the officers in each group have served at sea(a) at that rank or (b) at a lower rank.

(2) if he will list the numbers of petty officers and ratings of each rank in the Royal Navy, differentiating between male and female personnel of equivalent rank and indicating how many in each group have served tours of duty at sea.

Mr. Soames

The information is not available in the precise form requested. A table showing the number of personnel serving on the trained strength of the Royal Navy—indicating chaplains and medical and dental officers—as at 1 January by rank and gender, together with the percentage of those personnel who have served at sea, is as follows. It should he noted that drafts and appointments to some ships—in refit or extended readiness, for example—do not count as sea service, and have been excluded. Additionally, some records which pre-date computerisation, particularly those of the more senior officers, may not be complete.

Officers
Male Female
Rank Total Sea percent. Total Sea percent.
Admiral 4 100 0 0
Vice Admiral 13 85 0 0
Rear Admiral 27 72 0 0
Captain 356 93 3 0
Commander 1,125 96 12 25
Lieutenant Commander 2,292 95 42 45
Lieutenant 2,664 88 201 48
Sub Lieutenant/Midshipman 230 86 24 50
Total 6,711 92 282 46

Petty Officers and Ratings
Male Female
Rate Total Sea percent. Total Sea percent.
Warrant Officer 819 97 10 20
Chief Petty Officer 6,973 99 102 13
Petty Officer 5,848 98 329 22
Leading Rate 6,732 99 732 29

Petty Officers and Ratings
Male Female
Rate Total Sea percent. Total Sea percent.
Able/Ordinary Rate 11,271 95 1,655 58
Total 31,643 97 2,838 45

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