Armed Forces (Youth Recruitment) (Hansard, 26 January 1999)

HC Deb 26 January 1999 vol 324 c165W 165W

§ Mr. Berry
To 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 Henderson
The 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.

	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.