§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of armed forces personnel who sign on for 22 years reached the 22-year point of their service in each of the last 15 years. [82119]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 25 November 2002]: It is not possible to identify the original population who signed on for 22 years and as a result figures cannot be provided as percentages. The number of United Kingdom regular other ranks personnel who have left the armed forces having served 22 years or more are as follows.
Financial year Naval1 Service Army2 RAF3 1986–87 - 2,266 524 1987–88 - 2,316 523 1988–89 - 2,259 518 1989–90 - 1,950 538 1990–91 - 1,852 543 1991–92 - 2,134 658 1992–93 - 2,695 698 1993–94 - 2,997 628 1994–95 - 2,459 412 338W
Submarine Class Commissioned date (a) Decommissioned date (b) Sold for continued operational service (c) Scrapped (d) Cachalot SSK — 1980 — 1980 Finwhale SSK — 1988 — 1988 Grampus SSK — 1980 — 1980 Narwhal SSK — 1983 — 11983 Porpoise SSK — 1982 — 11985 Sealion SSK — 1987 — 1990 Walrus SSK — 1986 — 1987 Oberon SSK — 1986 — 1991 Olympus SSK — 1989 21989 — Orpheus SSK — 1991 — 11991 Odin SSK — 1991 — 1991 Onslaught SSK SSK — 1991 — 1991 Onyx SSK SSK — 1991 — 1992 Otter SSK — 1992 — 31992 Oracle SSK — 1992 — 41992 Osiris SSK — 1992 21992 —
Financial year Naval1 Service Army2 RAF3 1995–96 — 1,935 349 1996–97 73 1,486 373 1997–98 38 1,440 310 1998–99 31 1,490 323 1999–2000 45 1,690 346 2000–01 44 1,727 367 2000–02 50 1,782 457 Notes:
1. The naval service data shown include all exit reasons after the 22-year point and include five personnel who signed on for more than 22 years originally. Only six years of back data are available. These figures include RM and QARNNS.
2. For the army the personnel involved will have joined between 1965 and 1980. During this period all soldiers signed on for a 22-year engagement. There have been some amendments to the 22-year engagement which are explained as follows:
(a) From 1952 to 1957. The 22-year engagement was introduced on 1 May 1952. All soldiers enlisting on this engagement had the right to opt out at the end of three years' service or any subsequent period of three years. The right to premature release on repayment, which had been introduced in 1948, was continued.
(b) From 1957. With effect from 1 October 1957, the three-year option was abolished apart for entrants into certain services and the foot guards.
(c) From 1969. From 1 April 1969,the three-year option was reintroduced, except for certain skilled employments.
Soldiers who signed up for 22 years but were commissioned before the end of the engagement period and have subsequently served additional years have not been included in these totals. The 22-year period has no special significance once a soldier has gained a 'Late Entry' commission.
3. For RAF airmen the 22-year exit point is the first exit point at which they receive an immediate pension on exit. There are three further option points to which personnel can continue to serve-Age 47, Length of Service 30 and Age 55. Eligibility for further service to these points will be dependent on achieving certain ranks.