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Armed Forces (Strengths)

Volume 441: debated on Tuesday 29 July 1947

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94.

asked the Minister of Defence what will be the numbers of men and women in the Services at 31st December, 1947, on the completion of the provisional release programme to that date, given the continuation of the present rate of call-up and voluntary recruitment.

I have been asked to reply. It is estimated that the numbers of men and women in the Services at 31st December, 1947, will amount approximately to 1,150,000 but, as my hon. Friend is aware, the general question of the strength of the Armed Forces in the remainder of the financial year is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Defence if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statistical analysis of the strength of, the three Services on 30th June, 1947, or, at the latest date for which figures are available, stating the numbers of officers and men in each Service who are on Regular engagements and the numbers of men in each Service who have enlisted

——R.N. and R.M.Army.R.A.F.All Services
(1)Strength: Male all ranks180,700773,600284,5001,238,800
(2)Women's Services7,40032,60022,50062,500
(3)Total188,100806,200307,0001,301,300
(4)Male Officers (normal or short service Commissions)14,57023,0309,68047,280
(5)Male other ranks on regular engagements92,520123,40076,960292,880
Male regular strength107,090146,43086,640340,160
For details of recruiting in the first half of the year, I would refer my hon. Friend to the quarterly recruiting returns made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence. The return for March quarter, 1947, was given on 20th May in answer to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for North Blackpool (Brigadier Low) and that for June quarter, 1947, was placed in the Vote Office on 24th July.