Team Forward Assist & Salute Her UK believe in the democratic process and encourage veterans accessing our service to think creatively and critically, when campaigning for change.
We would also like to thank the following MP’s for asking and answering the following Parliamentary Questions:
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the levels of military initiation rituals which humiliate and sexually abuse serving personnel.
Question answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (25.04.2022): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regards any involvement of personnel in any form of initiation ceremony as unacceptable. Humiliating fellow personnel is bullying, while sexual abuse is a criminal offence; both are unacceptable behaviours and neither are tolerated. Allegations concerning initiation ceremonies will be formally investigated and, if substantiated, may result in disciplinary and/or administrative action being taken against those involved. Soliciting or coercing another to undertake any such activity is also unacceptable. Fortunately, the occurrence of such initiations remains rare across all three Services of the Armed Forces, however, even one such event is too many, and the MOD is committed to tackling any unacceptable behaviours present among our Service personnel.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of sharing records of convicted perpetrators of military sexual assault with civilian police upon discharge from the Armed Forces.
Questioned answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (25.04.2022): It is already the case that civilian police forces have access to this information. Any offence for which there has been a conviction will be recorded on the Police National Computer, which is visible to both the Service Police and civilian police forces. Any persons who have been placed on the Violent and Sexual Offences Register (ViSOR) will be visible to both the Service Police and civilian police and will be managed through the civilian police's Offender Management Teams. Work is ongoing to improve the day-to-day data sharing between the civilian police and Service Police.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department collects on the number of Armed Forces personnel with adverse childhood experiences.
Question answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (25.04.2022): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not have a definition for what constitutes "adverse childhood experiences". Such a term could refer to circumstances ranging from socioeconomic factors, such as a deprived background, through to serious criminal matters, such as being a victim of child abuse. Although there is no centralised definition, and therefore no central data collection in this area, the MOD would hold some data on certain matters which may be considered adverse childhood experiences. For example, socioeconomic background may be recorded in voluntary diversity declarations, while incidents of childhood abuse may be recorded in confidential medical records or as part of a mental health assessment during recruitment medicals. In-line with our data protection obligations, the MOD requests only the minimum of personal data required for our purposes, both during and after recruitment, which does not routinely include information about any adverse childhood experiences.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will respond to the recommendations listed in the 2021 Forward Assist Privileged Access Interview Report entitled, El Hombre Invisible: Male Veterans Share their Lived Experience of Military Sexual Trauma in the British Armed Forces.
Question answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (25.04.2022): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not reviewed this report, nor has it been approached to formally respond. Defence does not routinely review or respond to third party reports which have not been commissioned by the Department. The MOD does not recognise the term 'Military Sexual Trauma', although we recognise it is used elsewhere as a means of referring to cases of sexual assault or sexual harassment which occur whilst in service. Defence has been clear that there is no place for this behaviour in the Armed Forces. All allegations will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate support provided to victims, be they serving or veteran. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence. Personnel who come forward can have full confidence that all allegations are thoroughly investigated; Commanding Officers must always refer any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, to the Service Police. Anyone found to fall short of the Services' high standards or to have committed an offence is dealt with appropriately, up to and including imprisonment and dismissal from service.
Question asked by Emma Lewell - Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specialist support his Department provides for men in the Armed Forces who have reported sexual assaults during (a) initiation ceremonies and (b) service careers.
This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what independent specialist services are available for victims of sexual assault and abuse from the (a) LGBTQ+ and (b) BAME communities (i) during and (ii) after military service. (155765)
Question answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (25.04.2022): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the welfare of its people. The Armed Forces promote equity in Service for all those affected by sexual assault and abuse, and there are multiple forms of support and assistance available, both within and external to Defence, for all our personnel, including men and the LGBTQ+ and BAME communities, both during and post-service.
Whilst in service, available support includes unit welfare officers, the chain of command, and pastoral support via the chaplaincy. Further assistance is also available via the Aurora service which provides confidential independent support to any serving member who is experiencing sexual violence, domestic abuse, or stalking. There is also Togetherall, an independent digital mental health support tool operated by the NHS in partnership with the MOD, through which Service personnel, veterans, and their family members can anonymously access tailored self-help courses.
Independent support is also available via the charitable sector. For example, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) provides help to all Service personnel and veterans with any mental or emotional health concerns. SSAFA can sign-post individuals to specific organisations for further targeted support. There is also The Samaritans, who work with the MOD and other charities to support Serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
For men specifically, examples include The Male Survivors Partnership which offers a free counselling service for men, and those supporting them, who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence. Also Survivors UK provide a helpline, face-to-face counselling, and support groups for men who have been raped or sexually abused. For LGBTQ+ personnel, Galop, for instance, operates helplines which facilitate access to caseworker who can design tailored assistance for LGBT+ personnel who have experienced abuse and violence. Also Fighting with Pride also signposts sources of help for LGBTQ+ veterans and work with a wide range of organisations.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many female service personnel have served sentences at the Military Correctional Training Centre in Colchester in each of the last five years.
Answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (08.02.2022): The number of female Service personnel that have served sentences at the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester in each of the last five years is:
2017 5
2018 8
2019 7
2020 2
2021 2
Total 24
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female veterans are serving custodial sentences.
Question answered by Victoria Atkins Conservative MP (08.02.2022): As of 30 June 2021, there were 13 females serving a custodial sentence in England and Wales who had declared former military service. Information on previous service does not distinguish between those who have served in the British Armed Forces or those of another nation. Those who choose to declare previous service may be referring to time spent with the UK forces or with those of another country.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female veterans are subject to (a) community based court orders and (b) probation supervision.
Question answered by Victoria Atkins Conservative MP (08.02.2022): As of 30 September 2021, the number of female veterans subject to community based court orders and probation supervision was as follows:
Sentence type
Total
All court orders 11
All probation supervision 15
1. Veteran status can include individuals who have served in foreign Armed Forces as well as UK Armed Service Personnel and those who were in the Territorial Army/reserve.
2. Court orders includes all community sentences, deferred sentences and suspended sentence orders with requirements.
There is anecdotal evidence that some offenders may be reluctant to disclose having served in the Armed Forces. Note that we rely on them self-declaring previous military service, either here or abroad, for our data.
Question asked by Stephanie Peacock Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving personnel are on the Sex Offender Register; and what the offending behaviour of each of those personnel was.
Question answered by Leo Docherty Conservative MP (08.02.2022): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made it absolutely clear there is no place for unacceptable behaviour in the Armed Forces. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence, and Commanding Officers must always refer any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, to the Service Police. All allegations are thoroughly investigated, and support provided to victims. Anyone found to fall short of the Services' high standards or to have committed an offence is dealt with appropriately, which may include imprisonment and dismissal from service. Any Service personnel convicted of a sexual offence and subject to any notification requirements as set out in Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003 (more widely recognised as the Sex Offenders Register) will be discharged in all but exceptional circumstances.
The Service Justice System complies with all elements of the notification requirements in accordance with the SOA 03, for all personnel that have been convicted of any schedule 3 offence within the SOA 03. However, the information requested on the numbers of people who continue to serve and the nature of their offences is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The MOD regularly publishes Court Martial results:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-martial-results-from-the-military-court-centres, and annual statistics on sexual offending contrary to SOA 2003 and historic sexual offences dealt with wholly within the Service Justice System:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system
Question asked by Caroline Nokes Conservative MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure (a) understanding and (b) acknowledgement of the term Military Sexual Trauma (MST) by (i) his Department and (ii) the Office of Veterans Affairs to help prevent the occurrence of MST during and after military service.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (12.07.2021): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not accept the term ‘Military Sexual Trauma'. What we have done is make it absolutely clear we have zero-tolerance of unacceptable behaviour. All allegations are thoroughly investigated, and all victims supported appropriately. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence. Personnel can have full confidence that allegations are thoroughly investigated; Commanding Officers must always refer any allegations which have a sexual element to the Service Police. Anyone found to fall short of our high standards or to have committed an offence is dealt with appropriately, up to and including imprisonment and dismissal.
The Armed Forces are addressing sexual assault and harassment through a range of actions, including awareness campaigns and training on consent. In 2020 we published a leaflet on sexual harassment and how to report it, and started a 24-hour bullying, harassment and discrimination helpline to offer support and advice. In June 2021 we introduced new and updated policies on behaviour and complaints, making them easier to understand, more accessible and reinforcing our zero-tolerance policy. The MOD will also assess the findings of the Services’ sexual harassment surveys to plan interventions.
The Government plans to make the United Kingdom the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world, including for those whose service was affected by sexual violence. We recognise that such experiences can have profound and enduring impacts on an individual both during their service and as a veteran. Veterans, and their families, are offered a gold standard of tailored support, such as Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. This Government is continuously working to identify and draw upon lessons from other countries for both our serving and veteran populations.
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many female service personnel had an abortion whilst serving between 2000 and 2020; and how many were subsequently discharged from service after the termination.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (15.03.2021): Between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020, 1,275 Armed Forces personnel had a read code in their electronic medical record for a termination of pregnancy. Like for like data prior to 1 January 2010 is not held, as this preceded the roll-out of the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme, the source of electronic, integrated healthcare records of Armed Forces personnel. Of the 1,275 personnel, 486 are no longer serving as at 1 January 2021. It is not possible to determine an association between their termination of pregnancy and subsequent discharge from service. However, between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2020 there were no medical discharges officially recorded with a principal or contributory cause of termination of pregnancy.
Question asked by Caroline Noakes Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to extend the period beyond three years in which service personnel can report historic allegations of serious sexual assault.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (04.06.2020): The Service Justice System does not have a time limit in regard to bringing cases of sexual assault. The Service Police will continue to investigate any allegations of historic serious sexual offence brought to their attention.
Question asked by Khalid Mahmood Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to procure anatomically specific body armour for female service personnel.
Question answered by Jeremy Quin Conservative MP (02.07.2020): Our VIRTUS body armour has eight different sizes of Scalable Tactical Vest and three for the frame. It can therefore be configured in a multitude of ways dependent on the size and shape of the wearer. Studies are continuing which explore further options for body armour that comes in different sizes and shapes in order to optimise the fit and reduce physical burden on all users.
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that female service personnel are provided with sanitary products when on operations.
Question answered by James Heappey Conservative MP (01.07.2020): The policy on provision of sanitary products to Service personnel overseas is currently under review. I will write to the hon. Member to update her once that review is completed.
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what financial support is available to female veterans who require child care when they access specialist support or therapy.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (30.06.2020): The requested information is not held by the Ministry of Defence. This type of support would be provided by the Local Authority in the specific geographical area that the female veteran resided. However, NHS England actively encourage all their providers to offer veterans flexible appointments that help them to access services (in terms of time or location) and have partnership arrangements with Armed Forces charities that can provide assessed childcare support and funding. The Government provides a significant package of childcare support to parents and carers, including our 30 hours offer for working parents of three and four year olds which has rolled out successfully, benefiting around 600,000 children in the first two years of delivery. All three and four year olds, and the most disadvantaged two year olds, are able to access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, the Government doubled the childcare entitlement for working parents of three and four year olds to 30 hours per week. The Government also offers Tax-Free Childcare for every £8 parents pay their provider via an online account, the government will pay £2 up to a maximum contribution of £2,000 per child each year, for children under 12. There is also support available for parents with childcare costs outside of the free early education entitlements for lower income families. For example, eligible families can get help with 85% of their childcare costs through Universal Credit, subject to a monthly limit of £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more children.
Further information on all Government childcare offers can be found at the following link: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many female armed forces service personnel were (a) absent without leave (b) charged with desertion or (c) registered with military and civilian police as a missing person in each year since 2015.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (24.07.2020): The information available on female Armed Forces Service personnel who have been absent without leave (AWOL) or charged with desertion in each of the last five years is provided in the tables below. The Ministry of Defence holds no information on missing persons in the United Kingdom as this is a matter for the civilian police forces. There are no records of any female Service personnel being reported to the Service Police as a missing person overseas in the last five years.
Year
Recorded AWOL
2015
5
2016
~
2017
0
2018
5
2019
~
2020 (as at 21 July)
~
Year
Charged with Desertion
2015
~
2016
~
2017
0
2018
0
2019
0
2020 (as at 21 July)
0
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 to preserve anonymity. Where the number is less than 5, the symbol ~ has been used. All figures are single Service estimates and are not official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. The AWOL figures in the table are for the number of AWOL offences reported, not the number of personnel who have gone AWOL. An individual may be recorded as AWOL more than once in this time period. The figures for Recorded AWOL and Desertion charges have been compiled from different sources and have not been cross-checked.
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultation process he has put in place for the chair of the people committee’s review into his Department’s progress implementing the Wigston review recommendations.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (10.09.2020): At the request of the Secretary of State, Danuta Gray (Non-Executive Director and Chair of the People Committee) agreed to conduct a 'one year on' review of the Wigston Report. The review commenced on the first anniversary of the Wigston Report (15 July 2020) and will run for three months. It will examine the progress that has been made by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Head Office and the Armed Forces in implementing the recommendations. In conducting the review, Ms Gray is keen to understand the experience and perspective of the widest range of Defence personnel possible and will therefore engage with senior officers from the single Services and MOD Civil Service, as well as a broad range of personnel at ranks and grades below that. A report will be published later in the year.
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2020 to question 85970 on Inappropriate Behaviours in the Armed Forces Review, whether he has plans in place for the consultation of (a) charities, (b) Community Interest Companies and (c) other stakeholders for Danuta Gray’s one year on review of the Wigston report.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (15.07.2020): Danuta Gray began her Review on 15 July 2020 and the terms of reference are attached. The Review seeks to assess progress made against the Wigston recommendations over the past year. Tackling unacceptable behaviour requires a culture change, therefore Ms Gray's Review has engaged with personnel at all ranks and grades, with Non-Executive Directors and private sector experts; it has also been informed by a range of studies and feedback. Culture change is a long-term process and the Wigston Review estimated it would take five to ten years to make a measurable difference; it is too early to consult on a wider basis, but future work is likely to include liaison with Service charities.
Question asked by Sharon Hodgson Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans have contracted covid-19 while living in Veteran specific accommodation projects.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (07.10.2020): The Ministry of Defence does not track service personnel once they have left the Armed Forces and therefore the information requested is not held.
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations in Forward Assist's report on women veterans entitled No Man’s Land.
Question answered by Johnny Mercer Conservative MP (09.09.2019): While the figures in this report are from a small sample size and contrast with trends from our anonymous surveys, any incident of sexual assault is one too many. Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated in the Armed Forces and we urge any victim of abuse, whether serving or veteran, to come forward. We are also implementing all the recommendations made by Air Marshal Wigston in his recent report on inappropriate behaviour, including establishing a new team to ensure complaints are dealt with quickly and effectively.
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what gender-specific support on (a) employment and (b) mental health women service personnel receive when leaving the armed forces.
Question answered by Tobias Ellwood Conservative MP (08.02.2019): No gender-specific support on employment or mental health is provided to female Service personnel when they are leaving the Armed Forces.
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mechanisms are in place to support (a) female service personnel and (b) female veterans with mental wellbeing (i) during and (ii) after military service.
Question answered by Mark Lancaster Conservative MP (07.02.2017): The Government recognises that Service life can cause stress. We take the mental health of the Armed Forces, both female and male, very seriously and provide a wide range of support and treatments for those who need them. This includes pre and post-operational stress management training, a wide range of psychiatric and psychological treatments, and initiatives such as Trauma Risk Management. We are also working hard to reduce stigma attached to mental health issues and to encourage Service personnel to come forward. The provision of veterans’ healthcare including mental healthcare, for both female and male veterans, is primarily the responsibility of the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations who work in close partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Service charities to ensure that veterans get the best possible care. The MOD also has a part to play and is determined to ensure that all veterans who require help are provided with appropriate support, including through the Veterans UK helpline and website; Veterans Welfare Service and the Veterans Information Service which contacts veterans 12 months after their discharge. Later this year the Veterans Gateway, provided by a consortium of charities led by the Royal British Legion, will be launched providing a one-stop service to better support the veterans’ community and help in accessing public, private and charitable services in the UK.
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many women are serving in the tri-service regular and reserve forces.
Question answered by Mark Lancaster Conservative MP (06.02.2017): The latest UK Armed Forces Biannual Diversity Statistics at 1 October 2016 shows that 15,280 and 4,890 female personnel were in the UK Regular Forces and Reserve Forces respectively. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574734/Biannual_Diversity_Statistics_1Oct16.pdf
Question asked by Emma Lewell-Buck Labour MP: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many women serving in the tri-service regular and reserve forces have accessed medical services in relation to concerns about their own mental health in the last 12 months. (62431)
Question answered by Mark Lancaster Conservative MP (06.02.2017): During the 12-month period between 1 October 2015 and 30 September 2016 (latest verified data), a total of 6,115 UK armed services personnel had an initial assessment for a mental health disorder at one of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) specialist Departments of Community Mental Health, or at a MOD-contracted in-patient provider. Of these, 1,188 (19.4%) were female personnel. 1,168 were Regulars, 16 were Reserves, and four were Others (including Military Provost Guard Service). These numbers represent all initial attendances at MOD specialist Mental Health Services and not all personnel will have been assessed as having a mental health disorder. In addition, some patients with a mental health condition may have been successfully treated wholly within the primary care setting by their GP or medical officer, without the need for referral to specialist facilities. Data regarding such treatments are not collated centrally.
