HC Deb 12 March 1980 vol 980 cc576-8W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people joined the Army in each of the years from 1974; how many officers resigned their commissions in each of those years; and how many other ranks left voluntarily before the completion of their engagements.

Mr. Hayhoe

The following numbers of officers and soldiers joined the Army in the financial years from 1974–75 onwards:

1974–75 24,264
1975–76 29,591
1976–77 24,088
1977–78 22,550
1978–79 25,254

The number of officers and soldiers who left voluntarily before the completion of their engagements in each financial year were:

Officers Soldiers
1974–75 477 6,014
1975–76 604 4,174
1976–77 561 3,750
1977–78 689 5,125
1978–79 830 5,722

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have resigned their commissions, and how many other ranks have left voluntarily without completing their engagements from the Royal Air Force since May 1979 to the latest month for which figures are available.

Mr. Pattie

Five officers resigned their commissions from 1 May 1979 to 31 January 1980. In addition, 211 officers and 1,235 Service-men and Service-women left the RAF prematurely on a voluntary basis during the same period. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the premature voluntary retirement applications take some time to process and that many of those leaving via this route applied before the period in question.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers have resigned their commissions from the Army and how many other ranks have left voluntarily before completion of their engagements since May 1979 to the latest month for which figures are available.

Mr. Hayhoe

A total of 532 Army officers and 3,142 soldiers left voluntarily before completion of their engagements, between 1 May 1979 and 31 January 1980.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have joined the Army in each month since May 1979 to the latest month for which figures are available.

Mr. Hayhoe

The numbers of people joining the Army in each month since May 1979 have been:

May 1,642
June 3,624
July 2,001
August 1,438
September 7,113
October 2,682
November 1,942
December 758