§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of applicants for enlistment in Her Majesty's forces who have been rejected on grounds of physical fitness alone during each of the last 10 years; and whether, in such cases, he will seek powers to refer them to hospital or to physical fitness training courses, with a view to their being accepted for Her Majesty's service after such courses.
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§ Mr. ReynoldsAs the answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures I will publish these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The applicants are civilians who may, if they wish, seek treatment from their own doctors in an effort to raise their medical standard of fitness to an acceptable level. It would be contrary to medical ethics for the Services to do more than provide the applicants' doctors with medical details if required.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE GIVES THE NUMBER OF MALE APPLICANTS TOR SERVICE AS RATINGS, SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN WHO WERE REJECTED ON MEDICAL GROUNDS. IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THEY WERE OTHERWISE SUITABLE. Year Navy Army Air Force 1958–59 2,918 Not available Not available 1959–60 2,941 1960–61 2,197 1961–62 2,109 1,455 1962–63 2,435 1,667 1963–64 2,703 614 1964–65 2,649 4,558 1,391 1965–66 2,588 3,804 1,467 1966–67 2,701 4,177 1,750 1967–68 2,457 3,422 1,828