Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consultation has taken place with recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision-making systems affecting staff.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) engages with Trade Unions on all key matters that impact staff. We have engaged with all recognised Trade Unions where we have pursued automation in systems that impact staff employment and will continue such engagement when future automation is proposed.

The MOD utilises automated decision-making systems to streamline labour-intensive processes and deliver more efficient services. Examples include the processing of annual leave requests on HR systems following management approval and notifying job applicants that they do not meet the nationality requirements for security-sensitive roles, with contact details provided to discuss alternative opportunities. The MOD may also utilise psychometric testing to assess candidates during recruitment, with automated processes generating and communicating the results.