HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 cc42-3W
Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Army, (b) the Naval Service, (c) the RAF and (d) the Welsh Guards have applied to leave the armed forces in (i) the last three months, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2000; and if he will make a statement. [87925]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 19 December 2002]: Details of applications for Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) are shown in the tables:

Table 1: PVR Applications as at 1 October 2002
Date Rank Naval service Army RAF
Last 3 months Officers 47 65 49
O/Ranks 456 1,679 518
2002 to date Officers 143 367 163
O/Ranks 1,470 5,184 1,499
2001 Officers 200 536 242
O/Ranks 1,909 7,833 2,174
2000 Officers 232 564 305
O/Ranks 1,533 7,569 1,957

Notes:

1. Of all the notices given by Naval Service personnel approximately 17 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date

2. Of all the notices given by Army personnel approximately 30 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date.

3. Of all the notices given by RAF personnel approximately 20 per cent. are withdrawn at a later date.

Table 2: Welsh Guards Other Ranks—PVR applications
Year Notice Given
Last 3 months 25
2002 to date 68
2001 117
2000 114

Note:

Details of PVR applications for officers in the Welsh Guards are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.