asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officers and men, respectively, were retained in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines after completion of their period of service during 1950; and how many it is expected to retain in 1951 and 1952.

At 31st December, 1950, 117 officers and approximately 4,000 R.N. ratings and Royal Marine other ranks were being retained. The numbers available for retention in 1951 will be 450 and 11,000 respectively, and in 1952 350 and 6,000 should this measure continue to be necessary.