Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of members of the armed forces posted abroad who (1) register to vote, and (2) cast their votes in elections and referendums.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
In April 2016 (the nearest available data point to the 2016 EU Referendum) there were 10,500 Service personnel stationed overseas and in April 2017 (the closest data point to the 2017 General Election) there were 9,200. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information to indicate the numbers or percentage of these personnel who were registered to vote or who actually voted. With regard to postal votes, the MOD does not hold data which would give an accurate analysis of the number of ballot papers submitted by Service personnel, as the voter packs processed by the Department also include the dependents of Service personnel, MOD civilian personnel based abroad and the dependents of civilian personnel. In addition, some personnel may have chosen alternative methods of returning their ballot papers.
Registration is a personal matter and personnel are free to decide whether, where and how they register to vote. The MOD works closely with the Electoral Commission to promote awareness among its people of the importance of registering to vote and of the options for doing so. Voter registration campaigns are run yearly within the MOD and the Department has seen a steady rise in the number of Armed Forces personnel who have declared they have registered. The latest version of the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS, 2017) indicates that 96 per cent of Officers and 81 per cent of Other Ranks who completed the AFCAS were registered to vote. Table B22.1 of the AFCAS provides figures on voter registration by Service and by year from 2013. The Surveys can be found on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-continuous-attitude-survey-index
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what percentage of British armed forces posted abroad are on the electoral register.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
In April 2016 (the nearest available data point to the 2016 EU Referendum) there were 10,500 Service personnel stationed overseas and in April 2017 (the closest data point to the 2017 General Election) there were 9,200. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information to indicate the numbers or percentage of these personnel who were registered to vote or who actually voted. With regard to postal votes, the MOD does not hold data which would give an accurate analysis of the number of ballot papers submitted by Service personnel, as the voter packs processed by the Department also include the dependents of Service personnel, MOD civilian personnel based abroad and the dependents of civilian personnel. In addition, some personnel may have chosen alternative methods of returning their ballot papers.
Registration is a personal matter and personnel are free to decide whether, where and how they register to vote. The MOD works closely with the Electoral Commission to promote awareness among its people of the importance of registering to vote and of the options for doing so. Voter registration campaigns are run yearly within the MOD and the Department has seen a steady rise in the number of Armed Forces personnel who have declared they have registered. The latest version of the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS, 2017) indicates that 96 per cent of Officers and 81 per cent of Other Ranks who completed the AFCAS were registered to vote. Table B22.1 of the AFCAS provides figures on voter registration by Service and by year from 2013. The Surveys can be found on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-continuous-attitude-survey-index
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks of Baroness Williams of Trafford on 19 December 2016 (HL Deb, col 1477), whether the relevant statutes relating to military offences have now been identified; and if so, how they will be added to the list of service disciplinary offences set out in the Policing and Crime Bill.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
A very large number of Army statutes which might also include further relevant offences including buggery offences have been identified which predate the Army Act 1881. These include the annual Mutiny Acts that applied the Articles of War and reach back to, at least, 1689. As my noble Friend, Baroness Williams of Trafford, indicated at Third Reading of the Policing and Crime Bill on 19 December 2016 (Official Report, column 1477), we are continuing to research this issue. Further primary legislation would be needed to add to the list of Service disciplinary offences set out in what is currently clause 166 of the Policing and Crime Bill and we will continue to explore suitable opportunities for this.
Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact that their funding changes will have on the number of school Combined Cadet Forces.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The Government wants to bring the cadet experience to as many young people as possible. That is why we have introduced the Cadet Expansion Programme, which is on track to deliver 100 new cadet units in state-funded secondary schools in England by 2015.
We are now looking at the best way of funding Combined Cadet Forces and are running a consultation to gather information from schools. No decisions have yet been made, and we will consider carefully the response to this consultation before deciding on future funding arrangements.