§ Ms Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the continuing liability of former service men for recall in respect of(a) early retirement and (b) redundancy. [30970]
§ Mr. SoamesThe normal rules for reserve and recall liability apply equally to those service personnel who leave at the end of their commission or engagement, and those who take premature voluntary release. These rules were also applied to those made redundant, with the following exceptions: male and female soldiers with between 12 and 22 years' service received immediate pensions and therefore became Army pensioners with a recall liability until age 60; male soldiers with less than 12 years' service were discharged into the long-term reserve with a recall liability until aged 45; female830W soldiers who enlisted after 1 January 1987 were discharged without reserve liability; and other ranks of the Royal Marines on nine-year engagements will serve the balance of their engagements in the Royal Fleet Reserve in addition to their normal three-year liability.