HC Deb 15 April 1988 vol 131 cc246-8W
Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military personnel have left the armed services in each year since 1974;

(2) how many military personnel have left the armed services at the end of a fixed term of service in each year since 1974;

(3) how many military personnel have left the armed services for medical reasons in each year since 1974;

(4) how many military personnel have left the armed services at retirement age in each year since 1974;

(5) how many military personnel have been dismissed from the armed services in each year since 1974;

(6) how many military personnel have left the armed services for reasons other than (a) end of a fixed term of service, (b) medical reasons (c) retirement age (d) dismissal, in each year since 1974.

Mr. Freeman

Details of the numbers leaving the armed forces by cause in each financial year are shown in the table. It is not possible to distinguish between exits at the end of a fixed term of service and exits at retirement age and a single category covering these two groups has therefore been shown. This category includes those leaving the Army having given notice. The numbers shown as dismissed include administrative dismissals as well as disciplinary discharge.

Year Total Outflow Time and age expiries Medical and Death Dismissal All other reasons
1974–75 53,109 20,338 2,892 5,814 24,065
1975–76 48,530 18,583 2,253 6,188 21,506
1976–77 46,412 17,257 2,228 6,367 20,560
1977–78 48,002 16,963 2,177 6,018 22,844
1978–79 49,306 15,385 2,087 5,673 26,161
1979–80 45,042 13,926 1,713 5,556 23,847
1980–81 37,535 11,967 1,423 6,383 17,762
1981–82 29,451 10,289 1,235 7,165 10,762
1982–83 28,657 11,625 1,475 6,426 9,131
1983–84 31,926 12,430 1,228 6,587 11,681
1984–85 34,554 12,955 1,578 6,092 13,929
1985–86 36,521 13,911 1,709 5,589 15,312
1986–87 36,961 14,811 1,550 5,657 14,943
Apr-Dec 1987 27,167 10,548 1,173 4,344 11,102

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many military personnel have left the Army in each year since 1974;

The numbers shown as dismissed include administrative dismissals as well as disciplinary discharges
Total outflow Time and age expiries Medical and death Dismissal All other reasons
1974–75 28,889 10,578 1,570 3,584 13,157
1975–76 26,797 9,418 1,353 4,254 11,772
1976–77 26,610 9,227 1,365 4,377 11,641
1977–78 29,072 10,033 1,328 4,016 13,695
1978–79 29,807 9,168 1,265 3,783 15,591
1979–80 26,348 8,877 1,055 3,722 12,694
1980–81 21,919 7,554 792 4,221 9,352
1981–82 17,094 6,242 713 4,995 5,144
1982–83 17,178 7,117 897 4,776 4,388
1983–84 19,959 7,936 681 4,931 6,411
1984–85 21,448 8,322 998 4,422 7,706
1985–86 21,301 8,621 1,120 4,009 7,551
1986–87 21,761 9,418 1,032 3,875 7,436
April to December 1987 16,707 6,861 814 2,931 6,101

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have joined the armed services as military personnel in each year since 1974.

Mr. Freeman

The numbers of people joining the Army from civil life in each financial year since 1974–75 are shown below:

Year Number
1974–75 24,264
1975–76 29,591
1976–77 24,088
1977–78 22,550
1978–79 25,254
1979–80 29,189
1980–81 28,871
1981–82 14,204
1982–83 13,071
1983–84 22,348
1984–85 22,278
1985–86 20,268
1986–87 19,918
April-December 1987 15,379

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have joined the armed services as military personnel in each year since 1974.

(2) how many military personnel have left the Army at the end of a fixed term of service in each year since 1974;

(3) how many military personnel have left the Army for medical reasons in each year since 1974;

(4) how many military personnel have left the Army at retirement age in each year since 1974;

(5) how many military personnel have been dismissed from the Army in each year since 1974;

(6) how many military personnel have left the Army for reasons other than (a) end of fixed term of service, (b) medical reasons (c) retirement age, or (d) dismissal, in each year since 1974.

Mr. Freeman

Details of the numbers leaving the Army by cause in each financial year are shown in the table below. It is not possible in the available statistics to distinguish between exits at the end of a fixed term of service and exits at retirement age and a single category covering these two groups has therefore been shown. This category includes those leaving the Army having given notice.

Mr. Freeman

The numbers of people joining the armed services from civil life in each financial year since 1974–75 are shown below:

Year Number
1974–75 42,236
1975–76 46,906
1976–77 40,244
1977–78 38,237
1978–79 43,366
1979–80 50,652
1980–81 50,488
1981–82 22,607
1982–83 21,647
1983–84 36,991
1984–85 34,721
1985–86 32,651
1986–87 34,049
April-December 1987 24,553

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