HC Deb 13 November 1970 vol 806 cc267-8W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers have deserted from the Army in each of the last five years; and how many soldiers with home addresses in Eire deserted in each year for the same period.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Starting with 1965, the total figures are 1,635, 1,721, 1,748, 1,832 and 1,761, respectively. The figures, included in these totals, for soldiers with home addresses in Eire are 254, 202, 217, 219 and 250, respectively.