Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether instructors at all phase 1 training sites where people aged under 18 are present are required to have disclosure and barring service clearance; and if he will make a statement.

The Armed Forces take their responsibilities toward all their people extremely seriously, particularly where those personnel are under the age of 18. Disclosure and safeguarding checks are one aspect of our safeguarding provisions for those in the 16-18 age group. There is no legal requirement for disclosure and safeguarding checks to be carried out on all instructors at all phase 1 training sites, but the Department's policy is that such checks should be considered by the employing authorities of all Phase 1 and Phase 2 establishments.