§ Mr. Hancock:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 11 July 2003, Official Report, column 1033W, on trained personnel, how many of the service personnel who went absent without leave in each year were dismissed from each service. [127908]
§ Mr. Caplin:Available information is shown in the table. Please note that as data are captured using different methods for each of the three Services, the given figures are not directly comparable on a Tri-Service basis.
Figures are based only on trained personnel and have been rounded to prevent accidental disclosure of sensitive personal data.
The figures in this answer will differ from those given by my hon. Friend for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) in his answer of 7 January 2003, Official Report, columns 40–42W as AWOL figures for those under training were included at that time.
25W
Naval Service1,2, The Naval Service figures for the period 1 January-31 December
Number reported AWOL Number dismissed from the Service2 1998 25 10 1999 35 5 2000 50 5 2001 85 10 2002 90 5 1These figures relate to Royal Navy only so do not include Royal Marines.
2 Those dismissed at court-martial or additionally, for the Naval Service only, at Summary Trial under warrant punishment system, as the result of a (or several) discipline offence(s). For the Naval Service dismissals the dismissal may not be solely due to the AWOL offence although one of the recorded offences was AWOL. They do not include personnel who were recorded as AWOL and later dismissed at a hearing with AWOL not recorded as an offence. In the case of the Army there are figures for the number of soldiers who have been court-martialled for going AWOL and then a third set of figures for those who have been subsequently dismissed as a direct result of the court-martial. The RAF figures are those personnel reported as AWOL and later dismissed for any reason.
Army1,2,3 Financial year Number reported AWOL2 Number court- martialled for going AWOL1 Number dismissed from the Service1 1998–99 1,400 90 45 1999–2000 1,665 100 50 2000–01 1,850 115 50 2001–02 1,655 120 45 2002–033 1.685 125 65 1 Those dismissed at court-martial or additionally, for the Naval Service only, at Summary Trial under warrant punishment system, as the result of a (or several) discipline offence(s). For the Naval Service dismissals the dismissal may not be solely due to the AWOL offence although one of the recorded offences was AWOL. They do not include personnel who were recorded as AWOL and later dismissed at a hearing with AWOL not recorded as an offence. In the case of the Army there are figures for the number of soldiers who have been court-martialled for going AWOL and then a third set of figures for those who have been subsequently dismissed as a direct result of the court-martial. The RAF figures are those personnel reported as AWOL and later dismissed for any reason.
2 The AWOL figures differ from the answer given in my answer of 11 July 2003, Official Report, column 1033W, due to belated absence publications being actioned or the cancellation of some absences.
3 Army and RAF dismissal figures for 2002–03 are subject to any unresolved disciplinary actions.
Royal Air Force1,2 Financial year Number reported AWOL Number dismissed from the Service1 1998/99 20 0 1999/2000 20 0 2000/01 20 3— 2001/02 15 3— 2002/032 25 3— 1 Those dismissed at court-martial or additionally, for the Naval Service only, at Summary Trial under warrant punishment system, as the result of a (or several) discipline offence(s). For the Naval Service dismissals the dismissal may not be solely due to the AWOL offence although one of the recorded offences was AWOL. 26W They do not include personnel who were recorded as AWOL and later dismissed at a hearing with AWOL not recorded as an offence. In the case of the Army there are figures for the number of soldiers who have been court-martialled for going AWOL and then a third set of figures for those who have been subsequently dismissed as a direct result of the court-martial. The RAF figures are those personnel reported as AWOL and later dismissed for any reason.
2 Army and RAF dismissal figures for 2002–03 are subject to any unresolved disciplinary actions.
3 denotes less than five