§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum age for recruits for the Royal Marines and RAF; and how long this has been so.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe minimum age for recruitment to the Royal Marines and RAF is as follows:
Males Females Royal Marines Officers 17 years 6 months — Servicemen 16 years — Royal Air Force Officers 17 years 6 months 18 years Servicemen 16 years 6 months 17 years In the time available, it has not been possible to ascertain precisely how long the age limits have been in force. The minimum age for RM service men is believed to have increased to 16 with the raising of the school leaving age in 1972. In the RAF, the current minimum age limits for officers and airwomen have been in place since at least 1967. The minimum recruitment age for airmen has been 16 years 6 months since 1981. Between 1967 and 1980 it varied between 16, 16 years 6 months and 17.