Other news stories

Military home page

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch says research shows that divorce rates in the forces are not only higher than those in civilian life but are rising, while those in the population as a whole are falling.

"The best asset that our armed forces have is the talent and dedication of service men and women," said Mr Keetch.  "Welfare and family support services must not be sacrificed as a soft option to meet annual efficiency savings. If we continue to underestimate the strain that service life places on the armed
forces and their families, the current low morale and haemorrhaging of trained personnel will only get worse. Our armed forces deserve better."

Mr Keetch disclosed figures showing that over the past 10 years the divorce rate had risen in the army from 1.8 per cent two per ent, in the Royal Navy from 3.7 to 3.8 per cent, and in the RAF from 2.9 to 3.4 per cent.

Over the same period the figures for the civilian population showed a rate falling from 1.25 to 1.07 per cent.  Mr Keetch said that armed forces marriages were twice as likely to break down as those of civilians.

A Liberal Democrats defence discussion document says that for armed forces personnel and their families, long periods of separation and the concern felt for loved ones serving in dangerous operational situations can take their toll.

In response, the Ministry of Defence says the armed forces are not representative of the rest of the civilian population.