§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those currently serving in the armed forces joined when under 18 years of age. [66221]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe numbers of those serving in the Armed Forces at 1 December 1998 who joined when they were under 18 years of age is as follows:
Total Officers Other Ranks Total 83,490 12,560 80,930 Naval Service 18,861 1226 18,635 Army 46,608 2,247 44,361 Royal Air Force 18,021 187 17,934 1 The Naval Service and Royal Air Force figures exclude those Officers who have previously been promoted from the ranks as the relevant data is not held centrally.