HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 c41W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women were dismissed from Her Majesty's forces on account of pregnancy in each of the past 10 years. [76956]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The policy of compulsorily discharging women from the Armed Forces on grounds of pregnancy ceased in August 1990. Three hundred and thirty three women were discharged from the Army and the Royal Air Force on grounds of pregnancy in 1990–911 and 433 from the Navy Service, Army and the Royal Air Force during 1989–90.

1The figures represent compulsory discharges up to 1 August 1990 and voluntary exits thereafter until March 1991. No data are available for the Naval Service for the year 1990–91.