Armed Forces: Coroners

(asked on 8th October 2018) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the establishing a duty on coroners to record whether an individual was a (a) veteran and (b) serving member of the armed forces.


Answered by
Tobias Ellwood Portrait
Tobias Ellwood
This question was answered on 11th October 2018

No such discussions have taken place.

The Ministry of Defence takes the welfare of Service personnel and veterans very seriously and has published studies on the causes of death, including suicide, of veterans.

Studies into veterans deaths since the Gulf and Falklands wars show that the suicide rates amongst veterans were lower than comparative rates in the civilian population. In addition, Lord Ashcroft’s Veterans’ Transition Review (2014) found that Service leavers are no more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population.

Veteran Deaths connected with the Falklands War:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/307098/20140428_Falklands_Statistical_Release-1982to2013.pdf

Veteran Deaths connected with the 1990/1991 Gulf War:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/517240/20160125-Gulf_March16_REVISED_O.pdf

Veterans can also access support services from: www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline on 0800 138 1619 or access the Veterans Gateway:

https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/.

Reticulating Splines