HC Deb 06 July 1978 vol 953 cc302-3W
Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what comparable industrialised countries currently have a form of military national service for young people; what numbers are involved; and what forms such service takes.

Dr. Gilbert

As far as NATO nations are concerned, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal German Republic, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Turkey have forms of conscription. The proportion of conscripts to their total armed forces ranges from 30 per cent. to 90 per cent. and the period of conscripted service varies between eight and 30 months.