Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of enlisted army recruits aged (a) under and (b) over 18-years old have a background in the care system.

During the recruiting year 2016-17, approximately one per cent of under 18 year-olds who enlisted to the Army were subject to a Care Order.

For over 18s, from the information held centrally, no enlistees declared that they had been subject to a Care Order*. Thirteen per cent chose not to declare this information.

*For over 18s, information was available for 89% of enlistees.