§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of service personnel in each branch of the services were absent without leave in each of the last four years; and what was the number in each branch.
§ Mr. FreemanI refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 April 1987, at column 566. The figures for those deserting or being declared absent without leave given in that answer can be expressed as percentages of the average strength of the services in the years in question as follows:
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Army Royal Air Force 1983 0.21 0.42 0.02 1984 0.16 0.41 0.02 1985 0.17 0.34 0.01 1986 0.15 0.32 0.01