HC Deb 03 December 1968 vol 774 cc443-4W
Mr. Beaney

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the problems of junior Servicemen who have difficulties in continuing in the Services because of their failure to adjust themselves to conditions of service, if he will introduce reforms in the Service Regulations to enable junior Servicemen to elect to return to civilian life; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. David Owen

I have nothing to add to the statement which my hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration made to the House on 5th February, 1968. [Vol. 758, c. 43–9.]

Mr. Beaney

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many junior Servicemen have applied for their release since 1964; how many were granted a free release on compassionate grounds; and how many purchased their discharge

Dr. David Owen

The discharge of junior Servicemen is in the main delegated to commands and establishments. For this reason it would require an unjustifiable amount of administrative time and effort to define in all cases the number of applications for discharge.

I am preparing a detailed table showing the numbers of junior Servicemen released for compassionate and other reasons since 1964. I will forward this to the hon. Member as soon as I can.