§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were recorded as being absent without leave during 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 387–88]: The numbers of service personnel who were recorded as having deserted or being absent without leave in 1983, 1984 and 1985 were as follows:
1983 1984 1985 Royal Navy 143 107 113 Royal Marines 6 3 4 Army 670 662 507 RAF 19 16 9 838 788 633 The figures for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines include all those who were absent without leave for more than seven days during the year. The Army and RAF include all those who were absent without leave for more than 21 days. The figures for the RAF for 1985 are for the whole year; the figures for the Royal Navy and Army are up to the end of November 1985 only.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure is followed subsequent to a unit suspecting one of its personnel of being absent without leave.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 387–88]: The procedures to be followed subsequent to a unit suspecting one of its personnel of being absent without leave are laid down in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy, chapter 19 articles 1920–1940; in Queen's Regulations for the Army chapter 5 paragraphs 207–210 and in Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force paragraphs 1085–1086. These regulations are supplemented by detailed administrative instructions. Copies of these documents are in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were imprisoned as a result of being found guilty of absence without leave during 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 387–88]: No service personnel were imprisoned solely as a result of being found guilty of absence without leave during the period 1983 to 1985.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were held in a place of detention for periods in excess of 24 hours upon returning from a period of absence without leave during 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 387–388]: The information requested is not recorded by the three services and could be obtained only at 129W disproportionate cost. It does not automatically follow that an absentee returning to his unit will be held in detention or close arrest. An absentee may have acceptable reasons for his absence which makes disciplinary action unnecessary or he may have surrendered voluntarily.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were found guilty of deliberate absenteeism but not imprisoned; and how many were not held in places of detention, on the grounds of mitigating circumstances regarding their action during 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1986, c. 387–388]: The number of service men dealt with 130W summarily for deliberate absenteeism and who were found guilty but not awarded custodial sentences is not centrally recorded. The following number of Royal Navy and RAF personnel were convicted of offences of desertion or absence without leave by courts-martial and not awarded custodial sentences:
1983 1984 1985 Royal Navy 4 7 1 Royal Air Force 1 — 1 In the case of the Army, statistics are not kept in a form which would allow them to be given save at disproportionate cost and effort.