Page:Hansard (UK) - Vol 566 No. 40 August 29th 2013.pdf/95

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Mr Francois: The information requested on absence without leave for recruits below the age of 18 is only available for those who were classed as long-term absent for 21 days or more. These data are set out in the following table:

The number of recruits requesting and granted discharge as of right under the amended regulations, and instances of absence under 21 days, are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, there are no known examples in which a formal application for discretionary discharge under the ‘Under 18 Discharge as of Right’ scheme has been rejected.

Mr Francois: Since the Armed Forces (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 came into force the extended right of discharge for recruits below the age of 18 has been implemented by each of the three services.

Recruits under 18, and their parents, initially received oral briefings while documentation was updated. All three services’ attestation papers reflect the regulations in their latest iterations.

The naval service and the RAF changed their attestation documentation over the last year and the Army, because of the transfer of operations to the Recruiting Partnering Project with Capita, and the size and scale of their operation, have just completed updating their forms.

Armed forces recruits under the age of 18, and their parents, still receive an oral brief and copies of the offer of service. Copies of these papers for all three services have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr Francois: A Defence Instruction and Notice was issued in December 2011 providing service-wide instruction, including to all commanding officers and recruitment establishments, on the changes to the rights of discharge for those enlisted below the age of 18. This information is verbally emphasised to prospective recruits and their parents or guardians during the recruiting process and should now be reflected on the attestation papers if the individual subsequently enlists.

Mr Francois: The following regulations were introduced:

2010 The Armed Forces (Redundancy, Resettlement and Gratuity Earnings Schemes) Order 2010— (SI 2010/345) The Armed Forces (Redundancy, Resettlement and Gratuity Earnings Schemes) (No.2) Order 2010—(SI 2010/832) The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2010—(SI 2010/283) The Atomic Weapons Establishment (Awe) Burghfield Byelaws 2010—(SI 2010/249) The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2010—(SI 2010/1723) The Reserve Forces Act 1996 (Isle of Man) Regulations 2010—(SI 2010/2643) The Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunals (Isle of Man) Rules 2010—(SI 2010/2644) The Armed Forces Act (Continuation) Order 2010—(SI 2010/2475) The Visiting Forces (Designation) Order 2010—(SI 2010/2970)

2011

The Armed Forces Redundancy Schemes 2006 and the Armed Forces Redundancy Etc. Schemes 2010 (Amendment) Order 2011—(SI 2011/208) The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2011—(SI 2011/811)