To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
LGBT Veterans Independent Review
Wednesday 28th June 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans' Affairs jointly commissioned the independent review to better understand the impacts and implications of the pre-2000 policy relating to LGBT people serving in HM Armed Forces. The review underlines Defence's unwavering commitment to understanding how best to support its veteran and LGBT community.

Lord Etherton recently concluded his independent review and submitted his report and recommendations to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Cabinet Office. The Government will now consider the report and recommendations and decide which Departments are best placed to take action. Defence is committed to publishing the report and responding in full in due course after giving the report due consideration, as per the terms of reference.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Tuesday 13th June 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the deletion in 2010 of disciplinary records relating to the ban on homosexuality will not adversely affect eligibility for any future compensation scheme.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Defence and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs jointly commissioned an independent review into the service and experience of LGBT veterans who served in the Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000. The review underlines Defence’s unwavering commitment to understanding how best to support its veteran and LGBT community.

The questions of financial compensation and other corrective and restorative measures were included in the scope of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

Defence is grateful to Lord Etherton for his work on this important review. We deeply regret the past treatment of LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces and thank those that have come forward. The Government is considering the recommendations of the review and will respond in due course.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Tuesday 28th February 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2023 to Question 125224 on Armed Forces: Homosexuality, whether his Department is aware of earlier destruction of relevant records.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Almost all police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed. Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, in line with data protection legislation and Ministry of Defence (MOD) policy prescribing retention periods based on category of offence. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information.

Our research into this topic indicates that relevant records were generally managed and retained in the same way as records of other offences, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy at the time. Archived communications suggest the exceptions to this are:

  • In 2000 the targeted removal of written warnings that had been placed on individual service records, where homosexuality was suspected but not proven, after the lifting of the ban on homosexuals serving in the Armed Forces made such warnings inapplicable.
  • In the 1990s and 2000s, the collation and preservation of some records concerning homosexuality that was undertaken due to litigation against MOD.
  • Some Royal Navy Special Investigation Branch paper investigative records from the 1990s escaped routine destruction by chance and still exist. MOD intend to use these records to improve their understanding of how gay and lesbian personnel were treated by the Armed Forces.
  • The general destruction in 2010 and 2011 of most remaining investigative records, in line with MOD policy at the time and communicated by the Defence Police Chiefs Forum. The destruction of investigative records did not include personnel service records, which remain intact.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the advice given by Defence Police Chief's Council in 2010 to delete records of investigations and dismissals into Armed Forces service people accused of homosexual conduct.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with officials in his Department on the potential impact of the deletion of records of investigations relating to homosexuality in armed forces will have upon Lord Etherton's review into the treatment of LGBT veterans.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if will take steps to ensure that previous deletion of records of investigations and dismissals into Armed Forces service people accused of homosexual conduct will not adversely affect (a) potential future claims for compensation, restoration of lost pension entitlements or (b) admissions of fault from his Department.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will investigate for what reasons records of investigations and dismissals into Armed Forces service people accused of homosexual conduct were deleted in 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans had their records relating to disciplinary action due to homosexuality in the Armed Forces destroyed in 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Homosexuality
Wednesday 25th January 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to specify which legal duty the Ministry of Defence spokesman is referring to in his remark to the BBC on 2nd November with relation to the the deletion of records of investigations relating to homosexuality in Armed Forces.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the armed forces was wrong and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply regrets LGBT+ members serving in Defence suffered injustice as a consequence. The LGBT Veterans Independent Review (IR), co-commissioned by the MOD and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, launched its Call for Evidence (CfE) on 15 July 2022, where it sought testimony from those impacted by the Armed Force’s pre-2000 policy that homosexuality was incompatible with service in the armed forces. As part of this CfE, a testimonial referred to an accusation that in 2010 Service Police records relating to investigations where criminalised homosexuality was a factor had been deleted.

Service Police investigative records are routinely and lawfully destroyed, typically between three and 10 years after the offence is reported, in line with data protection legislation and MOD policy. Once records no longer have an investigative value there is no basis for retaining them, particularly as they contain sensitive personal information. Personal data contained in service records pre-dating 25 May 2018 were protected and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Data processed subsequent to this date is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. In 2010 and 2011, in line with Government policy agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office (HO), and Ministry of Justice (MOJ), the MOD enacted policy to destroy legacy police investigative records concerning decriminalised sexual offences so that historical decriminalised convictions would not show up on criminal record checks of Service Personnel. This was lawful, fully in line with appropriate Government policy on data protection, and mirrored Government policy in civilian life.


As part of the IR, the MOD have examined historic records and the policies and decisions made in relation to the retention of those records. We have found that the Single Services correctly followed policies and processes concerning the removal of records, in line with data protection legislation and government policy agreed with the ACPO and led by the HO and the MOJ. As the matter has been subject of an investigation within MOD as part of the IR, and to avoid prejudicing any recommendations stemming from the ongoing IR, there are no current plans to publish any documentation related to the decision of the Defence Police Chief’s Forum in 2010 to implement the government policy at the time


As the records no longer exist, it is not possible to quantify how many records have been destroyed. However, whilst Defence cannot give a precise figure for the number of veterans who had their records destroyed, I can advise that almost all such police investigative records concerning gay and lesbian personnel before 2000 have been destroyed.

The question of compensation, admissions of fault, and other such corrective and compensatory measures is a matter for the ongoing IR. Defence will not prejudice the outcome of the IR by speculating on any recommendations it may make. Pensions for Service Personnel are linked to their pay and length of service. Thus, Service Personnel dismissed or discharged in respect of their sexuality retained their accrued pension rights and are, therefore, out of scope of the IR.

The MOD’s priority now is to understand the full impact of the historic ban and find appropriate ways to address the wrongs of the past, where possible.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Death
Wednesday 22nd June 2022

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British armed forces personnel who served in the (a) Gulf war in 1991, (b) Iraq war in 2003 and (c) Operation Herrick (i) died on active service during those conflicts or (ii) subsequently took their own lives due to (A) post-traumatic stress disorder and (B) other causes.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The number of UK Armed Forces personnel who died during active service in each of the specified conflicts is presented in the following table:

UK Armed Forces deaths as a result of operations in Gulf 1, Iraq and Afghanistan, as of 28 February 2022

Conflict

Date

Number of deaths

Gulf 1

2 August 1990 to 7 March 1991

45

Iraq (Op TELIC)

20 January 2003 to 22 May 2011

178

Afghanistan1,2

11 September 2001 to 28 August 2021

457

Table Notes:

  1. As part of an ongoing commitment to report deaths for all operations overseas led by the Permanent Joint Headquarters, deaths as a result of these operations are published biannually: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics.
  2. Includes deaths on Operation VERITAS, Operation HERRICK and Operation TORAL.

The number of UK Armed Forces personnel who served during Gulf 1 who subsequently took their own lives was 216 as of 31 December 2015 (source: 1990/1991 Gulf Conflict UK Gulf Veterans Mortality Data: Causes of Death). This includes both coroner-confirmed suicides and open verdict deaths, in line with the definition used by the Office for National Statistics. Information is not held on the numbers of former serving personnel who deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan who subsequently took their own lives. However, Defence Statistics are in the process of setting up a new project to understand the long-term consequences of military service (including all deaths) for all personnel who have served since 2001, including recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2018, the then Secretary of State for Defence directed that, going forward, the study should include all personnel to understand the impact of continued deployments overseas, and it should provide near real time surveillance of causes of death in Serving personnel and veterans. The study is currently going through MOD Ethics and the NHS Health Research Authority Confidentiality Advisory Group ahead of the data flows starting between NHS Digital and MOD. Defence Statistics expect to start reporting for England and Wales later this year with data for Scotland and Northern Ireland following. The first report is expected in 2022.

Information is not held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on whether subsequent deaths for former serving personnel were due to post-traumatic stress disorder or other causes. Cause of death information is collated from the death certificate; this source of information does not provide any insight into the life factors and medical conditions that may have resulted in individuals taking their own lives.