§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Army officers and (b) Royal Navy officers have retired prematurely in each of the past three years; how many are expected to do so in the current year; and how many of these have left the Service entirely of their own volition.
§ Dr. GilbertThe number of trained officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and in the Army who left before their due date is as follows:
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Army 1974–75 355 525 1975–76 288 670 1976–77 283 817 1977–78* 240 637 * April-November. These figures include the following numbers who left entirely of their own volition
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Army 1974–75 243 477 1975–76 192 604 1976–77 189 561 1977–78* 162 407 * April-November. Final figures for 1977–78 will not be available until after the end of the financial year.