§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military service personnel(a) resigned and (b) retired from each of the military services in the last 12 months. [148330]
§ Mr. SpellarFor the period 1 January to 31 December 2000 the outflow from UK regular forces is as follows:
Naval service Army RAF Trained outflow PVR1 1,489 5,758 1,847 Retirements2 1,240 2,048 1,731 Other3 858 2,118 331 Untrained outflow4 1,506 5,759 670 Total 5,093 15,683 4,579 1 For military service personnel figures are quoted for the number leaving early on Premature Voluntary Retirement (Officers), and Premature Voluntary Release (Other Ranks). This results from the open engagement system which means servicemen can serve for 22 years. As these are not engagement periods as such those who leave earlier do so on Premature Voluntary Requirement. 2 Defined as personnel leaving at the end of an agreed period of service. 3 All other outflow of trained personnel. This includes medical, death, disciplinary, dismissal and services no longer required. 4 No breakdown of this category is available.