AGE OF ARMED FORCES RECRUITMENT

Early day motion 595, tabled 14 July 2005 by David Drew (Labour). Signed by 70 members.

That this House notes that those currently entering the army at the age of 16 years are committed for four years beyond their eighteenth birthday; welcomes the recommendation of the Defence Select Committee that the Ministry of Defence consider raising the age of recruitment into the armed forces to 18 years; further welcomes the finding of the Joint Committee on Human Rights that the UK Government's declaration on ratifying the UN Optional Protocol to the Rights of the Child is overly broad, thereby undermining the UK's commitment not to deploy under-18s in conflict zones; and urges the Government to withdraw its declaration and to raise the age at which young recruits can be enlisted into the armed forces to 18 years and thereby set an example of good practice internationally.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 18, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.