Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the concurrent jurisdiction protocol will be published.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Service Prosecuting Authority and the civilian prosecuting authorities intend to publish the draft revised Protocols later this month, with the final revised Protocol for each prosecutorial jurisdiction of the UK to be published later this year.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in the (a) army, (b) navy, (c) air force and (d) Royal Marines died as a result of suicide in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The latest published statistics show for the latest 20-year period the UK Regular Armed Forces remain at a significantly lower risk of suicide than the UK general population. Statistics on suicides in the Armed Forces, covering the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2021, are available at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-suicides-2021
The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy (AFSPS) and Action Plan will be published shortly. The APSPS will enhance our efforts to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. It has been developed by a small group of subject-matter experts across Defence, based on national guidance and using an Armed Forces evidence-base. The Action Plan will enable delivery of the AFSPS, informed by consultation with relevant stakeholders across Defence.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a Service Police Complaints Commissioner has been appointed.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I am pleased to confirm that His Majesty The King appointed Margaret Obi as the first Service Police Complaints Commissioner.
The role of the Commissioner is to provide independent oversight of the Service Police complaints system; Ms Obi will bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this role.
The Commissioner will have functions similar to those conferred on the Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Suicide Action Plan for the armed forces will be implemented.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The latest published statistics show for the latest 20-year period the UK Regular Armed Forces remain at a significantly lower risk of suicide than the UK general population. Statistics on suicides in the Armed Forces, covering the period from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 2021, are available at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-suicides-2021
The Armed Forces Suicide Prevention Strategy (AFSPS) and Action Plan will be published shortly. The APSPS will enhance our efforts to reduce suicide and better support those affected by it. It has been developed by a small group of subject-matter experts across Defence, based on national guidance and using an Armed Forces evidence-base. The Action Plan will enable delivery of the AFSPS, informed by consultation with relevant stakeholders across Defence.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of people discharged from the armed forces with personality disorders had previously made (a) formal or (b) informal allegations of sexual assault in each of the last five years; and to breakdown that proportion by gender.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This information is not held. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not routinely record a Veteran's discharge reason to this level of detail.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) set up and (b) annual running costs of Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit are; how many full-time equivalent staff will be allocated to that Unit; and what their salary costs will be.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC), will support the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.
The cost to establish the Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) is £0.9 million. The annual cost of the VWCU is £0.5 million. The VWCU will report to the Chief of Staff of the DSCC and will include 12 full-time members of staff. Much of the day-to-day operating costs will be captured under the DSCC budget and will take some time to understand fully.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral evidence from Air Marshal Richard Knighton to the Defence Committee on 8 November 2022, HC 726, whether the zero tolerance policy for unacceptable sexual behaviour will apply to trainees in phase one military establishments.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The 'Zero tolerance to unacceptable sexual behaviour: A victim / survivor focussed approach' policy sets out a presumption of discharge from the Service for those who are found, after investigation and to the civil standard of proof (balance of probability), to have engaged in unacceptable sexual behaviour. It applies to all Armed Forces personnel, including Phase 1 trainees.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Fourth Special Report of Session 2021-22 of the Defence Committee entitled Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report, what recent progress his Department has made on providing funding for the establishment of the Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command, will focus on supporting the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will be the main activities of the new Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit; and how many full-time employees it will have.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command, will focus on supporting the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.
Asked by: Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the new Victim and Witness Care Unit of the Defence Serious Crime Unit will be operational.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU), part of the Defence Serious Crime Command, will focus on supporting the needs of victims and witnesses. Funding has been secured for the establishment of the VWCU and it is expected to be operational in March 2023. The VWCU will ensure access to independent welfare support based on individual needs. It will provide victims and witnesses with direct guidance and support on how the Service Justice System works and services available, ensuring they are well informed throughout the process.