§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men have retired from the armed forces in each of the last five years. [15165]
§ Mr. IngramFor the last five financial years the trained outflow from UK regular forces (men and women) is as follows:
Trained outflow PVR1 Retirements2 Other3 Total 1996–97 9,953 6,447 10,279 26,679 1997–98 9,898 5,465 2,924 18,287 1998–99 10,312 5,541 3,012 18,865 1999–2000 9,640 5,105 3,145 17,890 2000–01 9,267 4,965 3,247 17,479 1 For military service personnel figures are quoted for the number leaving early on Premature Voluntary Retirement (Officers), and Premature Voluntary Release (Other Ranks). This results from the open engagement system which means service men can serve for 22 years. As these are not engagement periods as such, those who leave earlier do so on Premature Voluntary Retirement/Release. 2 Defined as personnel leaving at the end of an agreed period of service. 3 All other outflow of trained personnel. This includes redundancy, medical, death. disciplinary and services no longer required.