§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons wishing to join Her Majesty's Forces, over the last 305W 10 years, have been refused because their educational standards were below those required.
RN Servicemen RM Servicemen WRNS Servicewomen RAF Servicemen WRAF/PMRAFNS Servicewomen 1969–70 … 2,339 585 — Not available Not available 1970–71 … 2,541 474 — 4,187 1,330 1971–72 … 4,597 845 — 5,729 1,960 1972–73 … 4,794 847 — 3,677 2,294 1973–74 … 3,660 855 — 3,049 1,957 1974–75 … 5,289 1,049 — 2,846 1,276 1975–76 … 8,290 1,139 — 4,239 1,919 1976–77 … 8,430 885 1,220 4,350 1,520 1977–78 … 7,612 1,114 1,651 4,169 1,237 1978–79 … 7,241 1,577 1,462 4,480 1,221 The figures represent formal applicants who were rejected as a result of failing to satisfy the general educational requirements for entry to the RN, RM or RAF or failing to attain a sufficiently high level of specific trade test requirements for employments of their choice within the Service. Information for WRNS Service women prior to 1976–77 and for QARMNS is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Applicants for entry as Army Service men and Service women-WRAC and QARANC-are not required to satisfy any formal minimum educational standard. An obviously unsuitable candidate would be dissuaded at the inquiry stage. Suitability for particular employments is established at recruit selection centres or subsequently during recruit training or in some cases after preliminary educational training.
Entry standards for all three Services are kept under regular review to ensure they are not unnecessarily high.
Candidates for commissions in all Services are required to satisfy the minimum educational standards at the inquiry stage before making formal application. No information is therefore available as to the numbers "rejected" on education grounds.