HC Deb 11 February 1986 vol 91 cc449-50W
Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many officers and men in the Royal Air Force have left in each of the last three years, due to the fact that their services are no longer required;

(2) how many officers and men have left the Royal Navy, in each of the last three years, due to the fact that their services were no longer required;

(3) how many officers and men have left the Army in each of the last three years due to the fact that their services were no longer required.

Mr. Lee

[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1986, c. 306]: The number of commissioned officers and men who left the regular forces due to the fact that their services were no longer required were:

1983–84 1984–85 1 April-31 December 1985
Commissioned Officers
Royal Navy 37 33 9
Royal Marines 3 4 1
Army 61 98 75
Royal Air Force 95 99 43
Total 196 234 128
Servicemen
Royal Navy 576 568 422
Royal Marines 125 171 134
Army 3,613 2,979 2,043
Royal Air Force 615 617 412
Total 4,929 4,335 3,011

Figures for commissioned male officers show the numbers whose appointment was terminated. Officers designate have been excluded.

Figures for service men include disciplinary cases, unsuitable recruits, training failures and inefficiency discharges.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many officers and men in the Royal Air Force have been disciplined for major breaches of security in each of the last three years;

Mr. Younger

Yes. The following changes are being made, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary spring Supplementary Estimate. The net effect of the changes is a small reduction in public expenditure.

(2) how many officers and men in the Royal Navy have been disciplined for major breaches of security in each of the last three years;

(3) how many officers and men in the Army have been disciplined for major breaches of security in each of the last three years.

Mr. Lee

[pursuant to his reply, 7 February 1986, c. 306]: A total of one officer and two soldiers in the Army have been disciplined for major breaches of security under the Official Secrets Act in the last three years. No officer or other rank in either the RAF or the RN has been disciplined under these circumstances during this period.