HC Deb 01 March 1978 vol 945 cc283-5W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state, for each of

1 2 3 4
Financial year Total RAF officers with an option to retire at 38/16 point who elected to stay for a full career Total in column 2 expressed as a percentage of al officers with an option to retire at 38/16 point in that year Per cent. Total in column 2 expressed as a percentage of average trained officer strength Per cent.
1973–74 … … … … 264 76.1 1.6
1974–75 … … … … 258 77.9 1.6
1975–76 … … … … 288 75.0 1.9
1976–77 … … … … 231 77.5 1.6
1977–78 … … … … 228 72.2 1.7
Notes:
1. For 1977–78 the figures in column 2 cover the whole year. Column 4, however, relates only to the average trained officer strength for the period April to December 1977.
2. The figures in column 2 exclude officers with no option to continue in service after the 38/16 point but who are nevertheless invited to do so. The number of officers who accepted such invitations in 1977 for example was 89.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, for each of the last five years, how many serving RAF personnel have sought premature voluntary retirement; what proportion this has represented each year of total serving personnel; and how many of these

RAF OFFICERS
Financial year Number of applications Number expressed as percentage of trained strength Per cent. Number allowed to leave on date requested Number expressed as percentage of total applications Per cent. Number not allowed to leave on date requested Number expressed as percentage of total applications Per cent.
1973–74 … … 514 3.1 469 91.2 45 8.8
1974–75 … … 447 2.8 423 94.6 24 5.4
1975–76 … … 472 3.1 451 95.6 21 4.4
1976–77 … … 497 3.5 431 86.7 66 13.3
1977–78* … … 537(1) 5.3 370 68.9 112(1) 20.9
* April to December.
Notes:
1. Total number of applications for 1977–78 includes 55 which are still under consideration.
2. Applications for premature voluntary release (PVR) from RAF officers are approved if Service requirements allow the officer to leave on the date he has requested (which may be some time ahead). If not, he is informed that the application is not approved but that his name has been placed on the PVR waiting list. He is also informed of the earliest likely date when he may be released but no promise is or can be given that he will be able to leave on that date. It will depend on Service requirements at that time. Applications may be withdrawn. An officer may make more than one application.

the last five years, the total number of serving RAF personnel who have, on reaching the 16/38 retirement point, extended their RAF service; and what proportion of total-serving personnel have thus re-enlisted for each of the last five years.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Relevant figures are given below:

requests, both in total and as a percentage, have been: (a) accepted and implemented; (b) deferred; and (c) rejected for each of the last five years.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Relevant figures for premature voluntary release (PVR) are given below:

RAF Ground Trades
Financial years 1973–74 (Note 1) 1974–75 (Note 1) 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 (April-December 1977)
(a) Numbers seeking PVR … 3,584 3,407 2,821 2,532 2,138
(b) Percentage of (a) to trained strength … 4.8 4.9 4.2 4.0 4.7 (Note 2)
(c) Number of (a) accepted … 3,584 3,407 2,821 2,532 2,138
(d) Percentage of (a) accepted … 100 100 100 100 100
(e) Number of (a) implemented (Note 3) … 3,424 2,785 2,404 2,186 923 (Note 4)
(f) Percentage of (a) implemented … 95.5 81.7 85.2 86.3 43.2
(g) Number of (a) deferred … 4 6 4 4 19
(h) Percentage of (a) deferred (Note 5) … 0.11 0.18 0.14 0.16 0.89
(i) Number of (a) rejected … Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
(j) Percentage of (a) rejected … Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Notes:
1. The records for 1973–74 and 1974–75 are not complete. Some withdrawn and completed applications were not recorded.
2. This is an annual rate; for the nine month period 3.5 per cent.
3. Difference between (a) and (e) almost entirely due to withdrawal of applications (see also Note 4).
4. Allows for 192 withdrawals, remainder awaiting release.
5. Where applications specify no preferred release date no deferment has been assumed.
6. Figures for airmen who exercised their right to leave after 18 months notice are not included. Those with less than three years service are ineligible for premature voluntary release.

I am arranging for a review of policy on premature voluntary release to be undertaken.