Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel were medically discharged due to a (a) primary or (b) secondary chronic pain condition in the last three years.

Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2023, 461 UK Regular Armed Forces personnel were medically discharged with a Read Code for a primary chronic pain condition cited as the principal or contributory cause.

Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2023, 10 UK Regular Armed Forces personnel were medically discharged with a Read Code for a secondary chronic pain condition cited as the principal or contributory cause.

Both principal and contributory causes have been included as it is possible for personnel to be medically discharged for multiple medical reasons.