§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the discharge of a serving soldier who has been convicted of a serious criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment. [38905]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 22 April 1998]: Under the terms of the Queen's Regulations a soldier is to be discharged if he has been sentenced to imprisonment or to detention or to any other form of custodial sentence. However, the soldier's Commanding Officer has the option to apply through the chain of command to retain the soldier in exceptional circumstances.