Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provisions are in place to ensure that all military personnel aged under 18 can access higher education, as required by Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that all Serving personnel have opportunities to continue their personal development throughout their Service careers. A wide range of courses are available to all Serving personnel at different levels, from basic computer skills to distance-learning degrees.

The Armed Forces Learning Credits Scheme helps support development for Service personnel. Standard Learning Credits fund small-scale learning whilst Enhanced Learning Credits are designed to provide help towards the cost of gaining further or higher education qualifications. The New Employment Model programme is currently looking at ways to widen the scope of Standard Learning Credits for elective professional and personal development.