Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department last made an assessment of the number of Casualty Notification/ Visiting Officers; and whether that assessment included (a) the number available for Reserve Forces and (b) scrutiny by Deputy Chief of Staff Brigade/ Formation HQ; and if he will make a statement.

The selection and training of Casualty Notification Officers and Casualty Visiting Officers is a constant and ongoing process as individuals move and are posted. Each Service is required to maintain a capability to meet their own requirements. The single Services have the ability to both flex and task individuals between different locations and if required due to remoteness or commitment, individuals may be tasked to support the other Services. Following the concept of whole force integration, no distinction is made between Regular and Reserve Forces. Scrutiny of the individual and the capability is vested at the garrison/station level.