Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many formal complaints of violent or abusive behaviour by staff at the Army Foundation College have been made by (a) Junior Soldiers or (b) their parents/guardians since 2014.

The number of Service Complaints made by Junior Soldiers at the Army Foundation College (Harrogate) since 2014 is so low that to supply actual numbers would be considered disclosive. For this reason, the figure has been suppressed in order to preserve anonymity.

I can confirm that fewer than five Service Complaints have been received from Junior Soldiers attending the College since 2014.

All Serving or former members of the UK Armed Forces can make a Service Complaint if they feel they have been wronged on a matter that arises when they are subject to service law. A Service Complaint cannot be raised on behalf of another individual, therefore figures can only be provided in response to part (a) of the hon. Member's question.

However, any allegation of unacceptable behaviour raised locally to the Chain of Command, either by serving personnel or from a parent/guardian is investigated accordingly.?There are robust procedures in place to ensure all forms of unacceptable behaviour are handled appropriately.