Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of early service leavers (a) were medically discharged and (b) left of their own volition in each service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence defines Early Service Leavers as personnel who exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period. The following table refers to outflow following Phase 2 training, from the Trained (RN/RM and RAF) and Trade Trained (Army) UK Regular Forces, including personnel leaving the Services, deaths and recalled Reservists on release. It is not possible to identify the reasons why untrained personnel leave service early.
It should be noted that ‘Medically Discharged’ figures represent those who are suffering from a medical condition that pre-empts their continued service; ‘Voluntary Outflow’ encompasses all personnel who voluntarily exit before the end of their agreed engagement or contracted period, and ‘Other Service Leavers’ includes, but is not limited to, those that exit for reasons of discipline, unsuitability or other unspecified reasons. Figures do not include promotion from Ranks to Officers or flows between Services.
Number and Percentage of Early Service Leavers1 by Financial Year and Service from 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2025
| FY 2020-21 | FY 2021-22 | FY 2022-23 | FY 2023-24 | FY 2024-25 | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
Total | 7,077 |
| 8,584 |
| 11,317 |
| 11,315 |
| 10,099 |
|
Medically Discharged | 891 | 12.6% | 1,021 | 11.9% | 1,347 | 11.9% | 1,750 | 15.5% | 1,598 | 15.8% |
Royal Navy/ Royal Marines | 280 | 4.0% | 410 | 4.8% | 357 | 3.2% | 370 | 3.3% | 383 | 3.8% |
Army | 502 | 7.1% | 484 | 5.6% | 804 | 7.1% | 1,157 | 10.2% | 1,026 | 10.2% |
Royal Air Force | 109 | 1.5% | 127 | 1.5% | 186 | 1.6% | 223 | 2.0% | 189 | 1.9% |
Voluntary Outflow | 5,268 | 74.4% | 5,978 | 69.6% | 8,400 | 74.2% | 8,101 | 71.6% | 7,304 | 72.3% |
Royal Navy/ Royal Marines | 1,202 | 17.0% | 1,348 | 15.7% | 1,923 | 17.0% | 1,695 | 15.0% | 1,596 | 15.8% |
Army | 2,969 | 42.0% | 3,480 | 40.5% | 4,522 | 40.0% | 4,652 | 41.1% | 4,338 | 43.0% |
Royal Air Force | 1,097 | 15.5% | 1,150 | 13.4% | 1,955 | 17.3% | 1,754 | 15.5% | 1,370 | 13.6% |
Other Early Leavers | 918 | 13.0% | 1,585 | 18.5% | 1,570 | 13.9% | 1,464 | 12.9% | 1,197 | 11.9% |
Notes:
Some of this information was obtained from records whose primary purpose is to ensure appropriate administration, with statistical analysis and reporting secondary functions, introducing time lag and impacting on the quality of data recorded.
Figures align with those found in the Service Personnel Statistics Publication (2025 collection found here: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics: 2025 - GOV.UK), in particular Table 5d UK Regular Forces Trained/Trade Trained Outflow by Service and Exit Reason.
Defence Statistics release annual updates on medical discharges in the UK Armed Forces as an Official Statistic publication. The last statistical release was on 17 July 2025 which presented data up to 31 March 2025. The latest report can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of recruits did not pass out of basic training in each service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The single Services routinely monitor and review reasons for recruits and trainees withdrawing from training, ensuring that they are supported appropriately. For example, the Recruit Trainee Survey (RTS) annual reports provide summary statistics on the perceptions of training, facilities, food, support and fairness of treatment of Phase 1 and Phase 2 recruits and trainees. The single Services use these activities to identify where improvements can be made to ensure more recruits and trainees complete their basic and professional training to enter productive service in the Armed Forces.
The requested information is provided in the attached spreadsheet.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects the Law Commission to report on legislation governing co-operative and community benefit societies.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
In line with the government’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, the Chancellor announced measures to support the sector at Mansion House 2024. This included continuing funding for the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and asking the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare a report on the mutuals landscape.
The Law Commission’s review is considering ways to update and modernise legislation for co-operatives and community benefit societies, ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective. The Law Commission is expected to publish its final recommendations in a report and draft bill before the end of 2025. The government will then carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations to understand whether reform of legislation is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.
The government is also committed to ensuring that regulation for all mutuals remains proportionate and enables the sector to grow. That’s why the government asked the FCA and PRA to produce a report on the mutuals landscape. This is expected to be published by the regulators before the end of 2025.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Prudential Regulation Authority to report to Parliament on mutuals.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
In line with the government’s manifesto commitment to double the size of the co-operative and mutuals sector, the Chancellor announced measures to support the sector at Mansion House 2024. This included continuing funding for the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and asking the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare a report on the mutuals landscape.
The Law Commission’s review is considering ways to update and modernise legislation for co-operatives and community benefit societies, ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective. The Law Commission is expected to publish its final recommendations in a report and draft bill before the end of 2025. The government will then carefully consider the Law Commission’s recommendations to understand whether reform of legislation is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.
The government is also committed to ensuring that regulation for all mutuals remains proportionate and enables the sector to grow. That’s why the government asked the FCA and PRA to produce a report on the mutuals landscape. This is expected to be published by the regulators before the end of 2025.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 59057 on Roads and Roundabouts: Northumberland, how many direct representations her Department has received from (a) officials and (b) elected representatives of Northumberland County Council on (i) the Road Investment Strategy, (ii) Moor Farm roundabout and (iii) Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department for Transport has received no formal representations from officials or elected representatives at Northumberland County Council on the Road Investment Strategy, Moor Farm Roundabout or Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months. However in addition to representations set out in my answer of 16 June to question 59057, National Highways has confirmed that representatives from Northumberland County Council have attended formal Stakeholder Reference Group meetings in September 2024, and have contributed to the development of the strategic case for the proposals to improve Moor Farm and Seaton Burn Roundabouts in the RIS Pipeline.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has received from Northumberland County Council on (a) the Road Investment Strategy, (b) Moor Farm roundabout and (c) Seaton Burn roundabout in the last 12 months.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Officials from my Department and National Highways met with the North East Combined Authority, of which Northumberland County Council is a member, in January 2025 to discuss these and other matters. National Highways will continue to engage key local stakeholders, including the relevant local authorities, on proposals to improve Moor Farm and Seaton Burn Roundabouts through its regular Stakeholder Reference Group meetings.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reform estate adoption.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult this year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.
Further details are set out in the comprehensive Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November last year.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on levels of air pollution at Moor Farm Roundabout between the A19, A1 and A189 in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
National Highways does not have any air quality monitoring for Moor Farm Roundabout and has not monitored here, or similar locations, because there are no sensitive receptors such as houses or schools anywhere nearby.
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the level of funding is for projects under the road investment strategy (a) 1 and (b) 2, by region.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The level of capital funding invested through the major enhancement projects portfolio during Road Investment Strategy (RIS) 1 and 2 split by region is show in the below table. To note, the spend for the final year of RIS2 (FY2024/25) isn’t reported until summer 2025, therefore the figures for RIS2 only cover the first four years of that period.
Region | RIS1 (2015/16 to 2019/20) (£m) | RIS2 (2020/21 to 2023/24) (£m) |
East | 1520.5 | 634.1 |
Midlands | 1408.4 | 1049.8 |
North West | 893.4 | 722.3 |
South East | 1669.2 | 2186.4 |
South West | 135.1 | 740.1 |
Yorkshire and North East | 784.9 | 1077.2 |
Asked by: Emma Foody (Labour (Co-op) - Cramlington and Killingworth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of congestion at Moor Farm Roundabout between the A19, A1 and A189 on regional economic growth in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The impact of delay to road users is an integral part of National Highways assessment of the potential economic benefits of proposed enhancements to the strategic road network, within a scheme’s business case. The performance of Moor Farm junction has been considered in isolation and in combination with A1 Seaton Burn as part of the A19 North of Newcastle RIS Pipeline scheme.