§ 50. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen, excluding officers, applied for discharge by purchase from each of the three services in 1969; and how many of these applications for discharge were accepted.
§ Mr. HattersleyAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GoodhartHow does the Minister explain the sharp increase that there has been in the number of air force and naval personnel seeking to obtain their discharge from the Services in 1969 compared with 1968?
§ Mr. HattersleyCertainly not as a result of any growing dissatisfaction with the Forces. Were it from that cause, we would not have had the good results in re-engagement that we have had during the same period.
§ Following are the figures:
| Royal Navy/Royal Marines | Army | Royal Air Force | |
| Applications | 2,951 | Not available | 1,903 |
| Accepted | 2,093 | 7,675 | 1,538 |