HC Deb 22 November 1985 vol 87 cc352-3W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applicants to the Army's sensitive trades have been rejected in each of the last 10 years by failing the nationality requirement.

Mr. Stanley

Statistics are not kept of the number of applicants rejected because of the nationality rules.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in respect of the nationality rules governing admission to the Army's sensitive trades; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Stanley

I am aware of one such case this year.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the nationality requirements for commissioned ranks in the Army's sensitive trades are the same as those for non-commissioned ranks.

Mr. Stanley

Yes.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many exemptions have been made to the nationality requirements in respect of the Army's sensitive trades in each of the last 10 years; and whether, for each case, he will state the nationality of the parents of the successful applicant.

Mr. Stanley

According to the Department's records, the number of waivers from the restricted nationality rule granted to applicants to the Army during the last eight years is given in the table below:

Year Waivers
1978 69
1979 89
1980 115
1981 59
1982 46
1983 63
1984 55
*1985 30
* To 19 November.

Details of the nationality of the parents in cases where a waiver has been granted are not held centrally. These figures include waivers granted to applicants for a commission who are required to meet the restricted nationality rule, irrespective of the regiment or corps to which application is being made.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information is available to his Department in respect of the nationality requirements imposed by members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for admission to the sensitive trades of their armies.

Mr. Stanley

This information is not held in the Department.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to changing the nationality rules governing admission to the Army's sensitive trades to bring these rules into line with those for general admission to the Army.

Mr. Stanley

The nationality rules have been reviewed from time to time since they were introduced, the last occasion being in 1982 when it was decided to retain the present requirements.