Written question asked by Nicholas Dakin (Labour) on Monday, 7 March 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 March 2011. It was answered by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 28 March 2011 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forces: Absent without Leave

Question: (2) (a) trained strength and (b) in training armed forces personnel went absent without leave in 2010; and how many were under the age of 18.

Answer: [holding answer 17 March 2011]: The records of the Military Corrective Training Centre show that in 2010 there were 742 detainees who were subject to detention for absent without leave (AWOL) offences. A number of these individuals may have been charged with further offences other than AWOL.Records indicate that 10 of these detainees were under 18 at the time of the offence. However, central records do not differentiate between trained and untrained personnel recorded as AWOL, for all three services.

Secondary information