Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question HL288 on Army: Recruitment, what were the conclusions of the evaluation of bespoke terms of service for under-18s.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Soldier terms of service will continue to apply to all personnel, including for those under-18. The Army takes its duty of care for all personnel, particularly those under 18, extremely seriously, ensuring they are treated with special consideration. We keep terms of service under continuous review to ensure best practice and to deliver operational effectiveness.

The Army ensures under-18s are supported and safeguarded through additional measures, including:

• Discharge as of Right (DAOR): Recruits under 18 can leave the Army at any time up to their 18th birthday by giving 14 days' written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). Additionally, those under 18 at attestation can DAOR within six months of joining, following 28 days of service.
• Operations: No personnel under 18 are deployed on operations, in line with the UK’s obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Recruitment: The Army complies with all legal and policy requirements, conducting school visits only when invited as part of outreach programmes. Career advice is provided to pupils in Year 9 and above.
• Trades: Under-18 recruits are not channelled into Infantry or frontline combat roles. Role allocation considers personal preference, age, trainability, academic record, and physical ability.
• Education and Qualifications: The Army provides a first-class education programme, enabling young people to gain qualifications, life skills, self-confidence, and stability.
• Safeguarding: The Army determines which roles require disclosure checks when they involve working with under-18 Service Personnel and ensures that personnel filling these roles are appropriately vetted.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints have been made by (a) junior soldiers and (b) their parents or guardians about unacceptable sexual behaviour at the Army Foundation College between 1 January 2018 and 30 November 2024.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held in the format requested.

However, 159 sexual misconduct allegations were recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system against personnel serving at Army Foundation College (Harrogate) (AFC(H)) between 1 January 2018 and 30 November 2024. 108 of these allegations predated the Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour (USB) policy which came into effect on 19 November 2022. It is important to note that these figures include all Army personnel located at AFC(H), regardless of whether they are staff or Junior Soldiers.

AFC(H) reports every instance of unacceptable sexual behaviour under its Zero Tolerance Policy and actively encourages recruits to report concerns from day one. Serious incidents are reported to the civilian police. On arrival at AFC(H) the recruits receive day-one training in Army Values and Standards emphasizing Zero Tolerance and mandatory discharge for certain transgressions. Ofsted inspections in 2021 and 2024 praised how recruits confidently report unacceptable behaviours by peers and staff, knowing complaints will be handled seriously and swiftly. Ofsted noted that emotional and psychological safety, inclusion, and teamwork are firmly embedded in College life.

In March 2024, after interviewing 61.5% of female Junior Soldiers, Ofsted found that "female recruits rarely experience instances of sexual harassment or bullying. If they do, they know how to report it and know that staff will deal with it swiftly."

National ban on street-racing

Found: Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Glindon; Alison Hume; Will Stone

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Will Stone;