Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department not providing armed service personnel with a respirator compatible with a beard on (a) recruitment and (b) career choices within the armed forces for people who are required to keep their beard as a result of their faith.

The information needed to respond to the hon. Member’s questions is taking time to collate, and I will write to him shortly.