§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the annual numbers of Army personnel going absent without leave who, on being found, give the following types of reasons for their absence (a) bullying, (b) other problems relating to their Army life, (c) family problems and (d) other reasons.
§ Mr. FreemanRecords of the numbers of Army personnel going absent without leave, and who are subsequently found, do not identify individually the reasons given for absence. However, inquiries in the past have shown that the majority of such absences arise as a result of short-term domestic or personal problems affecting the individual. Overall, the numbers of Army personnel returning from absence without leave, in each of the last four years have been as follows:
917W
Year Number 1984 2,644 1985 2,208 1986 2,006 1987 11,641 1 To 29 October. The figures show returns from absence of any duration. The totals are therefore significantly greater than those shown for the Army in the answer given on 2 April 1987 at column 566, which referred only to absences of 21 days or more.