Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) male and (b) female recruits who completed phase two training at Catterick Infantry Training Centre in each year since 2006 went on to join the trained strength; how many such recruits in those categories were aged under 18 years when they enlisted; how many had undertaken phase one training at Harrogate Army Foundation College; and if he will make a statement.

On 8 May 2014 my right hon. on Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) announced that a review of the exclusion of women in ground close combat roles, including the Infantry, Royal Armoured Corps and Household Cavalry would begin immediately, and report by the end of this year.

No female recruits currently undergo infantry training and therefore figures shown for the Infantry Training Centre relate to males only.

The information requested is shown in the table. Completion of phase 2 training is the point at which recruits are deemed to have joined the trained strength:

Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ‘5' are rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.