Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether applicants to the Royal Navy who meet an initial body mass index requirement of 28 face a different check at any other stage of the process.

The recommended Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines for entry into service in the Royal Navy are attached.

Further assessment is by measurement of waist circumference: males with a BMI over 28 may join if their waist circumference is less than 94cm; females may join if their waist circumference is less than 80 cm.

The standards do not change during the application process but BMI is measured as part of the medical assessment, and results may differ from a candidates' individual declaration and/or the outcome of the initial BMI check.