§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many young service men have left the armed services in each of the last five years as a result of 2 "unhappy under 18s" regulations. [82937]
§ Dr. MoonieThe type of data held on this subject varies according to the schemes operated by each of the Services and is not, therefore, available in a common format. The information that is available is as follows.
Royal Navy
The number of young personnel who have left the RN (and Royal Marines) in 2002 and each of the past five years as 'unhappy juniors' or 'unable to settle during the first 12 months' is shown in the table.
Age 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 20021 16 — 3 — — — — 17 15 27 18 34 20 24 18 8 15 15 21 21 16 Total 23 45 33 55 41 40 1To end September 2002 Army
Statistics for exits under the 'unhappy under 18' scheme are recorded under the same code as other reasons for exit. The number of authorised discharges of under 18s in each of the past five years in the data category which will include 'unhappy under 18s' is shown in the table.
Year Total 1999 74 2000 125 2001 202 20021 292 1 To end October 2002 There is no Army data held in this detail prior to 1999.
RAF
The RAF did not introduce an 'unhappy under 18' scheme until mid 2002, since when two people have left under its provisions. Prior to that, all those under 18s who left the RAF at their own request did so under 'Discharge as of Right' provisions; and the number of such exits in 2002 and each of the last five years is shown in the table.
Age 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 20021 16 13 7 25 17 24 21 17 64 109 90 95 98 104 Total 77 116 115 112 122 125 1 To end October 2002