Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to review the safeguards on consent to enlistment in the light of the Committee on the Rights of the Child's finding in 2016 that such safeguards were insufficient.

Ministry of Defence policies on under-18s in the Armed Forces are robust and comply with national and international law. In addition to the comprehensive welfare system that is in place for all Service personnel we remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and have taken steps to bestow special safeguards on young people under the age of 18.

Our recruiting policy is absolutely clear. No one under the age of 18 can join the Armed Forces without formal parental consent, which is checked twice during the application process. In addition, parents and guardians are positively encouraged to be engaged with the recruiting staff during the process. Furthermore all Service personnel have a statutory right to claim discharge up to their 18th birthday, and the right of discharge is made clear to all Service personnel on joining the Armed Forces.