§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of Her Majesty's Forces were convicted of desertion in 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970 and 1969, respectively; and how many of these were either warned for service in Northern Ireland or were serving or had served in Northern Ireland;
(2) how many members of Her Majesty's Forces were convicted of absence without leave in 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970 and 1969, respectively.
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe numbers of convictions by court martial for desertion and absence without leave during the period 1969 to 1974 were as follows:
Desertion: 1969, 135; 1970, 112; 1971, 119; 1972, 88; 1973, 101; 1974, 120
Absence without leave: 1969, 906, 1970, 843; 1971, 756; 1972, 659; 1973, 647; 1974, 688.
In the case of the Navy, but not the Army or the RAF, charges of desertion may be dealt with summarily. In all three Services charges of absence without leave are normally dealt with summarily. Statistics of summary convictions are not readily available. The number of Service men convicted of desertion who had served in or been warned for service in Northern Ireland could not be calculated without disproportionate effort.