Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army recruits aged under 18 were discharged for a defect on enlistment in the last two years for which figures are available; and what each of those defects were.

Of those aged under 18 years of age on enlistment to the Regular Army as soldiers, the total number discharged under the category of 'defect in enlistment procedure' was 50 in 2015-16 and 30 in 2016-17. Totals have been rounded to the nearest '5'.

The specific reasons leading to defect in enlistment discharges are not recorded centrally, but include medical/health reasons, or previously undeclared criminal activity that has come to light after enlistment.