§ 116. Mr. Freethasked the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations govern the grant of permission to purchase a compassionate discharge to a naval rating who signed on for the long-service engagement while under 21 years of age.
§ Mr. HayA naval rating, whatever the engagement he is serving on and whatever his age on entry, may purchase his compassionate discharge if his dependants are suffering severe hardship for which his release is the only remedy.
But as an exception, junior ratings who are not yet 17½ years of age and who are still under training in the initial training establishments may be discharged by purchase if it is clear that they are genuinely unhappy in their choice of career and unlikely ever to settle down in the Royal Navy.
§ 117. Mr. Freethasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds he refused a compassionate discharge by purchase to radio operator J. Hardy.
§ Mr. HayI have written to my hon. Friend explaining that it was not possible to grant Radio Operator Hardy's application for compassionate discharge by purchase, as Hardy's circumstances did not meet the conditions described in my reply to my hon. Friend's previous Question today.