HC Deb 28 January 2002 vol 379 cc17-8W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the commitment of British troops in Afghanistan will have on his plans for recruiting more Gurkhas. [29976]

Mr. Ingram

None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19 October 2001,Official Report,column 1371W. There has been no change to the Gurkha recruitment plans outlined on that occasion.

Age Single Percentage Married Percentage Divorced/Separated Percentage Total
Naval Service
24 and under 11,958 96.2 447 3.6 23 0.2 12,428
25–29 5,190 66.9 2,352 30.3 219 2.8 7,761
30–34 2,843 33.8 5,029 59.8 539 6.4 8,411
35–39 1,152 15.2 5,707 75.2 729 9.6 7,588
40–44 361 9.9 2,948 81.1 326 9.0 3,635
45 and over 149 6.2 2,120 88.2 135 5.6 2,404
Grand total 21,653 51.3 18,603 44.1 1,971 4.7 42,227

Age Single Percentage Married Percentage Divorced Percentage Widowed Percentage Total
Army
24 and under 40,029 89.4 4,663 10.4 65 0.1 3 0.0 44,760
25–29 10,933 49.8 10,475 47.7 553 2.5 5 0.0 21,966
30–34 3,409 17.4 15,050 76.8 1,127 5.8 17 0.1 19,603
35–39 1,040 7.0 12,725 86.0 1,038 7.0 17 0.1 14,820
40–44 219 4.5 4,379 89.5 293 6.0 14 0.3 4,905
45 and over 117 3.4 3,218 93.5 108 3.1 24 0.7 3,467
Grand total 55,747 50.9 50,510 46.1 3,184 2.9 80 0.1 109,521

for preservation of pension benefits for those who left before the retirement age of the scheme. It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that individuals should be treated under the rules of the pension scheme applying at the time they retire. Improvements to benefits were therefore restricted to those currently in service and were not made retrospective.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) RAF and Royal Marine officers, (b) Navy officers and (c) Army officers have retired before receiving a full pension, after serving for over 10 years, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [25836]

Mr. Ingram

The numbers of officers who have retired from the three services before completing the 34 years necessary for full pension, but having served for more than 10 years are as follows:

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