Royal Navy

Lord Burnett Excerpts

Thursday 5th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

As with manning numbers on ships, the number does vary. I will write to the noble Lord.

[Lord Burnett (LD)]

My Lords, I wonder if the noble Earl would remind the SDSR team that there are many thousands of very high-calibre young men queuing up to join the Royal Marines, both as enlisted men and as officers—and that there should be no question of reducing the numbers in the Royal Marines, given the vital role they play in Britain’s defence.

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, the noble Lord, with his experience of the Royal Marines, makes an extremely good point. No doubt that issue will be at the forefront of the planners’ minds at present.