Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what instructions apply to members of the armed forces on having social contact with persons with known links to the media.

The Ministry of Defence has provided all civilian and military personnel with instructions regarding contact with the media and communicating in public. In line with the long-standing principles of the Civil Service Code, the Civil Service Management Code and the relevant Queen's Regulations, contact with the media or persons with known links to the media requires authorisation. I will place the latest version of the relevant Defence Instruction and Notice (DIN) in the Library of the House. It has been made available previously on www.gov.uk. The DIN makes it clear that in this context ‘contact’ refers specifically to contact which involves ‘passing information or expressing opinion on matters related to Defence.’