Question follow-through · 148
Army: Recruitment
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether provisions allow the immediate discharge of an under-18 year old recruit from Army training on safeguarding or welfare grounds, including where there are allegations of abuse; and whether such discharge c
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Ministry of Defence
- Tabled
- 13 May 2026
- Target answer date
- 18 May 2026
- Answer
- 18 May 2026 · 5 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Defence and foreign affairs
- Armed Forces: Smoking · 3 Jun 2026
- Armed Forces: Electronic Cigarettes · 3 Jun 2026
- Armed Forces: Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking · 3 Jun 2026
- Veterans: Radiation Exposure · 4 Sept 2026
- Defence: Technology · 14 Sept 2026
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Votes on this topic
- Opposition Day Motion: Defence spending and readiness - Prime Minister's Amendment · 23 Jun 2026
- Opposition day: Defence spending and readiness · 23 Jun 2026
- Armed Forces Bill Report Stage: Amendment 11 · 22 Jun 2026
These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.
Recorded timeline
13 May 2026
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether provisions allow the immediate discharge of an under-18 year old recruit from Army training on safeguarding or welfare grounds, including where there are allegations of abuse; and whether such discharge c
18 May 2026
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
18 May 2026
Answer published
All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Armed Forces: Smoking
3 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment his Department has made of smoking prevalence among armed forces personnel.
Armed Forces: Electronic Cigarettes
3 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of (a) non-compliant and (b) illicit vaping products on defence premises and naval vessels.
Armed Forces: Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking
3 Jun 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on (a) vaping cessation support and (b) smoking cessation support for armed forces personnel.
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
4 Sept 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made towards publishing records about Nuclear Test Veterans from The Technical Cooperation Programme.
Defence: Technology
14 Sept 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the Memorandum of Understanding of the Technological Cooperation Programme.