asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the practice of the Army to bind minors to their contracts of employment.
As the engagement of members of the Armed Forces is at the discretion of the Crown, enlistment into the Armed Forces does not involve entering into a contract. Consequently the law relating to contracts as it affects infants does not apply.Under his terms of engagement a junior soldier who enlisted under the age of 17½ may leave, as of right, at any time during his first sixth months of service by giving 14 days' notice. Furthermore, he has the option on reaching the age of 18 of either confirming his original commitment to service or of electing to reduce his commitment to one of three years' further trained service.