The Royal Navy continues to meet its commitments worldwide.<\/p>
Like many employers, it faces challenges in retaining technical expertise. This is being addressed through a range of schemes including direct entry into specialist trades, flexible working and opportunities for our Maritime Reserves to serve at sea to make sure we attract and keep the skilled personnel required.<\/p>
The details for current staffing levels for Service personnel in the Royal Navy on the Full Time Trained strength against the Workforce Requirement can be found at:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2018<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T16:29:27.313Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Navy"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there are sufficient numbers of sailors, marines and airmen in the Royal Navy.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL11591"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010183", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010183/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Operation Herrick finished in 2014, so many veterans of the campaign will still be serving. All Armed Forces personnel are supported by dedicated and comprehensive medical services, including mental health support. Current Service personnel are provided with pre- and post-operational stress management training, psychiatric and psychological treatments, and initiatives such as Trauma Risk Incident Management (TRiM - peer to peer support after a traumatic incident). The Ministry of Defence announced in October 2017 a new partnership with the Royal Foundation which will provide resources for training and education for the Armed Forces Community around good Mental Fitness.<\/p>
<\/p>
Further measures introduced to support Armed Forces personnel include a new 24-hour mental health helpline targeted at serving personnel and their families allowing them to access support for any mental health problems anytime, anywhere.<\/p>
<\/p>
For those who took part in Operation Herrick, but have left Service, the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations are responsible for healthcare, including mental healthcare, for veterans. Veterans\u2019 health is broadly aligned with that of the rest of the general population and most veterans\u2019 health requirements are sufficiently met by existing NHS provision. However, several tailored initiatives are already in place to cater for specific veteran needs, including priority access to NHS secondary care in England, Scotland and Wales for Service related conditions, subject to the clinical need of all patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
Further measures to improve support to veterans include the recently announced Veterans Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategy-for-our-veterans<\/a>. By 2028 we will be doing more to ensure that each veteran is valued, contributing and supported. One of our aims is that all veterans enjoy a state of positive physical and mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to contribute to wider aspects of society. In order to achieve this outcome, we will focus our efforts on enabling consistency of medical outcomes for veterans, through a smooth transition of provision from in-Service to post-Service and sharing effective practices amongst clinical and healthcare communities; and providing bespoke treatment for those veterans who have specific health needs because of their service.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "192114"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-23T14:14:54.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to introduce further measures to support veterans of Operation Herrick.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1522", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Adam Holloway"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gravesham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Adam Holloway"}
], "uin" : "192773"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010190", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010190/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The reasons why a number of under 18 applicants do not progress to commence basic training are similar to applicants of all ages. These include the applicant's personal choice, which can be driven by a range of factors such as personal circumstances and alternative employment opportunities, and applicants not meeting the Army's entry criteria, for example medical and educational standards and nationality requirements.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-22T17:29:23Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Army: Young People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2018 to Question 190539 on Army: Young People, for what were the reasons for under-18s applicants not starting basic training in each of the three years for which information is provided.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dwyfor Meirionnydd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Liz Saville Roberts"}
], "uin" : "192830"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010233", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1010233/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "It is not possible to determine the exact date of the decision to close Aberdeen University Royal Navy Unit in 2012. "}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T15:32:44.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "University Royal Naval Units: Aberdeen"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was taken to close the University Royal Navy Unit attached to Aberdeen University.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4601", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Bowie"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Bowie"}
], "uin" : "192843"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1008491", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1008491/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government takes the welfare of Service personnel and veterans very seriously. As in society as a whole, the Armed Forces will never be able to eradicate the incidence of suicide, however we are not complacent; any suicide is one too many and a tragedy for the individual.<\/p> <\/p> As at 1 February 2018, there have been 29 coroner-confirmed suicide and open verdict deaths to UK Army Service personnel, whilst serving, who had previously deployed to Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan). In addition, there were three coroner-confirmed suicide and open verdict deaths to UK Army Service personnel whilst deployed on Operation HERRICK.<\/p> <\/p> Suicide data for veterans of the UK Armed Forces is not currently captured by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). However, the MOD has commissioned a new study to investigate causes of death, including suicide, amongst all those who served in the UK Armed Forces between 2001 and 2014, covering combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will include Army personnel who are still in service, and Army personnel who have now transitioned into civilian life.<\/p>