HC Deb 12 March 1958 vol 584 cc396-7
3. Colonel Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War, from the figures so far available, what percentage of officers and other ranks, shown separately, will retire voluntarily as a result of the planned reduction in the size of the Army; and when he expects to be able to announce the final figures.

Mr. Soames

About 90 per cent. of the officers and 85 per cent. of the other ranks to be prematurely retired before 31st March, 1959, will be volunteers. The numbers to be retired after that will be decided annually, and until the final batch of applications has been received we shall not know the overall percentage of volunteers.

Colonel Beamish

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is very comforting that it has not so far been necessary compulsorily to retire more than a very small number of officers and other ranks?

— Oct., 1957–Jan., 1958 Oct., 1956–Jan., 1957 Oct., 1955–Jan., 1956
Enlisting for 6 years or more Enlisting for less than 6 years Enlisting for 6 years or more Enlisting for less than 6 years Enlisting for 6 years or more* Enlisting for less than 6 years
October … 645 1,223 298 3,141 0 2,545
November … 1,021 406 259 2,560 7 2,280
December … 889 328 191 1,963 1 1,961
January … 1,647 603 235 2,902 0 3,220
TOTAL … 4,202 2,560 983 10,566 8 10,006
*Before 1956 men were not normally permitted to enlist for more than three years.