Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Violence against Women: Armed Forces

Monday 28 March 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Wendy Chamberlain asked about steps taken to tackle violence against women in the armed forces.
  • The Minister responded with a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women in Defence.
  • Andrew Bridgen questioned whether military personnel are trained to control aggression, highlighting that breaches against any victim are unacceptable.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Defence Women & Equalities
Context

The MP is concerned about violence against women within the armed forces community, particularly regarding a constituent's experience of domestic abuse and subsequent homelessness.

Question

What steps he is taking to help tackle violence against women in the armed forces?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Of course, we have a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women across Defence, and our actions across education, training and the service justice system reflect that. Women can and do have brilliant careers right across Defence, and the role models of senior women leaders across all three services reflect that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and concrete actions to tackle violence against women were not provided.

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Q2 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Defence Women & Equalities
Context

The MP's constituent experienced domestic abuse and was forced to leave her home, leaving her children with their abusive partner. She is seeking support from the Department.

Question

My constituent had been living in the armed forces base in my constituency with her partner and her children, for whom she was the primary carer. During that time, she experienced continued domestic abuse and when she took the brave step of leaving her partner, she was told by the base that she would be required to leave. As a result, she was made homeless and, concerningly, she has had to leave her two very small children with her partner at the base. Although commitments to end violence in the first place are of course crucial, there will always be circumstances where it takes place. So what support can the Department put in place for those who suffer domestic abuse, and their dependants, while living within the armed forces community?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I am very moved to hear about the experiences of the hon. Lady's constituent, and if she would like to approach me with more details, I would certainly be happy to look at that case again. I reassure her that we have had a countering domestic abuse strategy across Defence since 2018, and I look forward to updating the House in due course about our strategy for tackling rape and serious sexual offences across Defence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support available was not detailed; only general reassurance provided.

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Q3 Andrew Bridgen Con
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about breaches of self-discipline by military personnel, regardless of gender.

Question

Does the Minister agree that we train all our military personnel to be able to be extremely violent when the situation requires but we also train them to have the self-discipline to control that aggression and that any breach of that discipline, whether perpetrated against male or female victims, needs to be dealt with expeditiously and seriously through military law?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and this is all the more the case given that women occupy every role right across Defence, quite rightly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The agreement was acknowledged but specifics on adherence to discipline were not provided.

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