asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of non-commissioned rank in each of the armed services over the past three years who, on completing 12 years' service, have left the service; how many applied to do a further 10 years; and how many were refused re-engagement.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

		1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
	Royal Navy†║
a.	Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point	156	163	240
b.	Number who left Service	16	24	30
c.	Number who applied to complete 22 years	*n/a	*n/a	*n/a
d.	Numbers refused re-engagement	*n/a	*n/a	*n/a
e.	Number re-engaged	140	139	210
	Army‡
a.	Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point	3,921	4,810	4,591
b.	Number who left Service	542	875	823
c.	Number who applied to complete 22 years	3,471	4,187	4,007
d.	Number refused re-engagement	92	252	239
e.	Number re-engaged	3,379	3,935	3,768
	Royal Air Force
a.	Number eligible to terminate service at 12 year point	2,110	1,813	1,379
b.	Number who left the Service	870	680	593
c.	Number who applied to complete 22 years	1,559	1,425	1,067
d.	Number refused re-engagement	319	292	281
e.	Number re-engaged	1,240	1,133	786
* No information is centrally available on numbers of applications and refusals for the Royal Navy
† No 12 year engagement exists in the Royal Marines.
‡ No formal 12 year engagement exists in the Army.

Servicemen enlisted since May 1972 do not have to apply to continue their service to the 22 year point.Those enlisted prior to May 1972 who did not change to the new terms may exit at the 12 year point but otherwise are committed to a further 3 years service.However, the Army may terminate a man's service under QR 9.413 at the 12 year point.