asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of: (a) the establishment number and type of technicians or tradesmen in the Naval Service, (b) the actual number currently serving, (c) the number in training and (d) the amount of extra allowances paid to each grade per week; and if he considers the present position satisfactory and, if not, the steps he proposes to take to improve the position.
Written Answers . - Naval Service .
405.
: (a) The re-organised Naval Service establishment provides for the following technicians:
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
Group 3 |
|
42 Electrical Artificers |
114 Mechanics |
55 Writers |
|
72 Engine Room Artificers |
64 Telegraphists |
14 Drivers MT |
|
26 Radio/Radar Mechanics |
45 Cooks |
|
|
21 Shipwrights |
||
|
4 Boot Repairers |
||
|
2 Tailors |
||
|
1 Cine Projectionist |
(b) The following technician appointments are currently filled:
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
Group 3 |
|
16 Electrical Artificers |
77 Mechanics |
39 Writers |
|
35 Engine Room Artificers |
40 Telegraphists |
8 Drivers MT |
|
13 Radio/Radar Mechanics |
31 Cooks |
|
|
7 Shipwrights |
||
|
1 Boot Repairer |
||
|
1 Cine Projectionist |
(c) The number of technicians in training is as follows:
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
Group 3 |
|
9 Electrical Artificers |
10 Mechanics |
6 Writers |
|
30 Engine Room Artificers |
13 Telegraphists |
|
|
5 Radio/Radar Mechanics |
7 Cooks |
|
|
5 Shipwrights |
(d) Details of the various special allowances, etc. payable to other ranks personnel in the Naval Service are as follows:—
(i) Naval pay at the weekly rate of £4.27 is payable to all NCOs and Seamen.
(ii) Military service allowance at the following weekly rates is payable to all NCOs and Seamen (except Seamen, Third Class i.e. recruits): Seamen with 3 or more years' service and all NCOs, £7.29; Seamen with less than 3 years' service, £2.62.
(iii) Technician pay at the following weekly rates is payable to members of the Technician Class: Group 1 (e.g. Engine Room Artificer, Electrical Artificer, Radio/Radar Mechanic), £7.96; Group 2 (e.g. Cook, Mechanic, Shipwright, Telegraphist), £4.23; Group 3 (e.g. Writer, Driver MT), £1.11.
(iv) Patrol duty allowance at the following rates is payable in respect of each day on which an NCO or Seaman is on patrol duty aboard ship away from the Naval Base, Haulbowline: Chief Petty Officer, £5.25; Senior Petty Officer and Petty Officer, £4.67; Leading Seaman, £4.09; Seaman, £3.50.
(v) In-charge allowance at the rate of £2.33 is payable to the Chief Engine Room Artificer on board a Coastal Minesweeper in respect of each day for which patrol duty allowance is payable.
(vi) Security duty allowance at the rate of £5 is payable for each day on which security duties (e.g. guard or stand-to duty in the Naval Base, Haulbowline) are undertaken.
(e) The Naval Service has for some time been undergoing a process of development aimed at enabling the Service to meet its vastly increased commitments. A major part of this process was the recent expansion of the numerical establishment which has been increased to 1,105 all ranks. Many of the new appointments provided are in the technician class and the object is to attain full establishment strength as quickly as possible. All measures regarded as necessary to build up the strength of the Naval Service, and especially the technician strength, to an acceptable level are being taken.
406.
asked the Minister for Defence if the Naval Service have any tugs or fire-fighting vessels available; if there are any plans to acquire such vessels; and if he considers the acquisition of such vessels necessary at this time due to the rapid expansion of the fleet.
: The Naval Service have no tugs or fire-fighting vessels and the acquisition of such vessels is not at present contemplated.
Naval Service ships are equipped to fight fires aboard. If tugs are required on particular occasions, they will be hired from commercial sources.