Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1491194

registered interest
date	20/07/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which specialist sexual violence organisations his Department consulted as part of the development of its (a) Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy: A Victim/Survivor Focused Approach, (b) zero tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse policy and (c) Strategy for Tackling Sexual Offending in Defence.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
uin	40793
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence consulted a number of organisations in the development of its policies and strategy, including Service Women's Networks and the Victims Commissioner who is also a permanent member of the Service Justice Board and is represented on the Service Justice Executive Group. Others consulted in the development of the Strategy for Tackling Sexual Offending in Defence included the Survivors Trust, the National Association of People Abused in Childhood and the Male Survivors Partnership.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 05/09/2022 14:28:15 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

1491195

registered interest
date	20/07/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the changes to policy from the Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy, Zero Tolerance approach to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and Strategy for Tackling Sexual Offending in Defence, whether (a) specialist support services and (b) sexual violence experts will be put in place to support (i) victims coming forward and (ii) defence agencies in managing cases of sexual violence.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
uin	40794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>Commanding Officers have a legal obligation to report alleged sexual violence to the Service Police who are trained to investigate cases of sexual violence to the same standards as the civilian police. All three Services' Police have a sexual violence lead ​who advise on policing policy and practices. The Service Police will use Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) where at all possible to aid their investigation and support the victim/survivor (SARC use may not be possible if an investigation is taking place abroad or on a ship at sea).</p><p>Agencies such as the Service Police and single Service Welfare agencies also routinely refer victims to Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services during investigations or through access to Welfare services, to ensure that all victims receive the appropriate independent support from sexual violence experts. ISVA services operate across the UK, and as such, appropriate services can be identified on a case-by-case basis. The anonymous whole force Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Helpline, Army 'Speak out' Confidential helpline, Service Police Confidential Crime Line and Service Charities' support lines can also signpost personnel to publicly available support services.</p><p>The Tackling Sexual Offending in Defence strategy sets out a number of measures to support victims in coming forward and support and enhance the work of the Defence agencies in managing cases of sexual violence. These include ensuring Sexual Assault Pathways with specialist services are followed for all survivors who have faced sexual assault; raising awareness with survivors of external sources of support available; developing ways to gather feedback for those encountering sexual violence and tackling issues of 'victim shaming' through education and awareness raising.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 05/09/2022 14:29:59 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

1491196

registered interest
date	20/07/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Zero Tolerance approach to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy excludes the use of (a) transactional sex and (b) transactional sex of trafficked victims by military personnel in the United Kingdom; and states that this policy applies only to those deployed abroad.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
uin	40795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The Zero Tolerance approach to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy is intended to deal with specific issues that arise if members of the Armed Forces pay for transactional sex when deployed or based outside the UK. Service personnel will often be deployed on training or operations in States which are less economically developed or where civil society has broken down, which means, as with aid workers, transactional sex is likely to be exploitative and harmful. Transactional sex between locals and service personnel is also illegal in many States and risks damaging relations between the armed forces and the local population and may harm the reputation of the UK and its armed forces.</p><p>It should be noted that Service personnel are always subject to UK criminal law, whether at home or deployed outside the UK, which bans soliciting and payment for the sexual services of a prostitute subject to exploitation or coercion. In addition, wherever they are, their conduct must always be consistent with the values of the armed forces and must not bring the Armed Forces into disrepute.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 05/09/2022 14:25:06 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

1488451

registered interest
date	12/07/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department’s response to the Defence Sub-Committee’s report, Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life, published on 2 December 2021, whether the review of policy to strengthen levers available to dismiss or discharge those who are found to have committed sexual offences or unacceptable sexual behaviour has completed.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
uin	35047
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2022 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence's 'Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offending and Sexual Relationships Between in Instructors and Trainees' policy came into force on 31 March 2022. Under this policy, all Service persons who are convicted of a sexual offence, or who are placed on the Sex Offenders Register, will be dismissed from the Armed Forces. Further policies to address other unacceptable sexual behaviours will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 19/07/2022 13:23:53 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1468894

registered interest
date	09/06/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what immediate support is available for members of the armed forces who are survivors of military sexual assault or rape where the incident takes place whilst overseas.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	15330
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2022 answer text <p>Whilst in Service overseas, immediate support in cases of sexual assault or rape will be afforded by Serious Crime trained Service Police officers or non-Service Police professionals trained in the use of First Response Medical Evidence Kits followed by the deployment of specialist trained officers in quick succession. Service Police sign post all victims to Independent Sexual Violence Advisor services and relevant sexual offence support agencies to provide additional impartial support which is outside of Service control. Following the immediate provision of support and necessary collection of forensic evidence the victim would then, with their consent, be recovered back to the UK to attend a Sexual Assault Referral Centre. Alternatively, this may be achieved in theatre by host nation partner agreements. Victims would also be fully supported by their Chain of Command and receive pastoral support via the Chaplaincy.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 17/06/2022 11:31:36 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1468905

registered interest
date	09/06/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2022 to Question 1528 on Armed Forces: LGBT+ People, for what reason his Department does not recognise the terms (a) military sexual assault and (b) military sexual trauma.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	15331
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2022 answer text <p>The terms &quot;military sexual assault&quot; and &quot;military sexual trauma&quot; are not recognised as legal concepts, nor as medical conditions or a clinical diagnosis, in the United Kingdom. They are labels which identify the context in which a sexual assault or traumatic experience occurred. While Defence acknowledges these terms are used in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States of America, these terms are not used by the UK National Health Service, nor the World Health Organisation's &quot;International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems&quot;. As such, the Ministry of Defence does not utilise these terms.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 17/06/2022 11:32:29 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1468636

registered interest
date	08/06/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2022 to Question 1525 on Armed Forces: Sexual Offences, how many serving personnel are on the Sex Offender Register as of 8 June 2022.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	14577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2022 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made it absolutely clear there is no place for unacceptable behaviour in the Armed Forces. On 30 March this year the MOD published a Zero-Tolerance to Sexual Offending policy which introduced mandatory discharge from the Armed Forces for anyone convicted of a sexual offence, this includes anyone subject to notification requirements as set out in Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003 (more widely recognised as the Sex Offenders Register). Prior to 30 March 2022, termination of Service was an option, but it was not mandatory.</p><p> </p><p>As of 8 June 2022, a total of 10 Serving personnel are on the Sex Offender Register. This figure has been rounded to 10 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality, in-line with Departmental rounding policy. Please note that this figure is based on data which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as that applied to our Official Statistics.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers are carefully considering further options for strengthening our Zero Tolerance policy taking legal advice.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 30/06/2022 17:04:11 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1468637

registered interest
date	08/06/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2022 to Question 1522 on Armed Forces: Violent and Sex Offender Register, whether (a) all service personnel convicted of a sexual offence will now be discharged following the introduction of the Zero Tolerance policy and (b) exceptional circumstances may still prevent discharge in some cases.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
uin	14578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2022 answer text <p>As stated in my answer to the hon. Member of 19 May 2022 in response to UIN 1522, under the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences policy all Service persons who are convicted of a sexual offence or who are placed on the Sex Offenders Register will be dismissed from the Armed Forces as a matter of course.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 15/06/2022 16:05:28 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1463473

registered interest
date	17/05/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving armed forces personnel have been (a) disciplined for sexual offences and (b) acquitted of alleged sexual offenses.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Dave Doogan
uin	3725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>The requested information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 23/05/2022 13:13:21 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4736 label Biography information for Dave Doogan

1463483

registered interest
date	17/05/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department holds information on the number and proportion of sexual assault cases in military courts that included testimony about the defendant's military conduct or service record in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Angus
tabling member printed	Dave Doogan
uin	3727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2022 answer text <p>This information is not held in the format requested.</p> answering member constituency Aldershot answering member printed Leo Docherty question first answered 23/05/2022 13:12:37 answering member 4600 label Biography information for Leo Docherty
tabling member	4736 label Biography information for Dave Doogan