§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide for each year the number of service men who leave the armed services and subsequently return, the time lapse and the reasons, where known, for leaving and returning in each case.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonApart from the figures provided in the table for non-commissioned male personnel who rejoined in the last 10 years, having previously served in the armed forces, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Year of re-entry Royal Navy1 Royal Marines2 Army3 Royal Air Force4 Total 1980–81 339 74 1,052 167 1,632 1981–82 128 29 98 44 299 1982–83 130 17 48 41 236 1983–84 104 8 155 146 413 1984–85 53 15 179 84 331 1985–86 50 17 186 108 361 1986–87 82 15 213 103 413 1987–88 121 14 213 105 453 1988–89 70 9 254 95 428 1989–90 81 7 376 138 602 1 The Royal Navy count as re-entrants only personnel who could complete 22 years pensionable service. 2 The Royal Marines count as re-entrants only personnel who could complete their engagement of 9, 14 or 22 years, as appropriate. 3 The Army count as re-entrants only personnel with existing reserve liabilities ie "rejoining reservists". 4 The Royal Air Force count as re-entrants only personnel who were in the Service on full duty in the 5 years prior to rejoining.