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Recruits (Application For Discharge)

Volume 806: debated on Thursday 19 November 1970

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asked the Minister of State for Defence how many recruits on average have made applications for discharge during the first three months of their service in Her Majesty's Forces during the last five years; how many applications were rejected; and how many complaints about the procedure he received in the same period.

During the first three months of their service (six months for young Service men) male other rank recruits have a statutory right to purchase their discharge for a nominal sum, and I am not aware of any complaints from the Services about this procedure. Over the last five years the average number of Service men purchasing their discharge within their first three months' service was slightly over 3,000 a year.