Retention

Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the retention rates were for (a) male and (b) female NCOs in each of the services in each of the last five years. [112622]

Dr. Moonie
Retention may be measured by looking at either the Premature Voluntary Release (PVR) rate that shows the number leaving voluntarily before the end of their engagement during a financial year as a proportion of trained strength, or the outflow rate, the total number of NCOs leaving the service during a financial year as a proportion of trained strength.Figures for each service are as follows:1.

Naval Service NCO Retention-----------
|         |
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|         |
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|1998–99  |
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|1999–2000|
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|2000–01  |
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|2001–02  |
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|2002–03  |
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Notes:

Data includes figures for Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

NCO is taken as leading rate and above.

2. Army NCO Retention-----------
|         |
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|         |
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|1998–99  |
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|1999–2000|
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|2000–01  |
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|2001–02  |
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|2002–03  |
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Notes:

NCO is defined as lance corporal and above.

3. Royal Air Force NCO Retention-----------
|         |
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|         |
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|1998–99  |
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|1999–2000|
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|2000–01  |
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|2001–02  |
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|2002–03  |
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Notes:

NCO is defined as corporal and above.