Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces: Harassment and Bullying

Monday 20 May 2024 · 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

  • The number of service complaints relating to bullying, harassment, and discrimination increased from 227 in 2022 to 262 in 2023.
  • Training for advisers includes measures to ensure complete anonymisation of complaints to build confidence in the system.
  • The Ministry of Defence has established the defence serious crime unit and the defence victim witness care unit to address issues of bullying, discrimination, and harassment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Stephens SNP
Defence Employment
Context

The question arises from a growing concern over harassment and bullying cases within the UK's armed forces. There has been a rise in service complaints, with 262 cases ruled admissible in 2023 compared to 227 in 2022.

Question

What recent assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of harassment and bullying cases in the armed forces. The number of cases is increasing, and there are concerns about whether people feel confident coming forward with complaints.

Answer from Andrew Murrison

In 2023, there were 262 service complaints relating to bullying, harassment and discrimination, compared with 227 in 2022. Changes to the service complaints system in June 2022 have encouraged people to come forward with their complaints. The “My Complaint” app will make the process easier and more accessible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a comprehensive assessment of trends or address the increasing number of cases specifically.

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Q2 Alexander Stafford
Defence Veterans
Context

The question pertains to ensuring that staff supporting the armed forces through a new anti-bullying hotline are properly trained and can provide anonymous support.

Question

Can the Minister tell me what training advisers have had, not only on how to help our armed forces, but on ensuring that everything is completely anonymised, so that people can go forward with their life and get the support and help that they need?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

I can give my hon. Friend the assurance he seeks. The most important thing is to ensure that people have confidence that if they come forward with complaints, they will be listened to and taken seriously.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on training or anonymisation procedures.

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Q3 Maria Eagle Lab Liverpool Garston
Defence Standards & Ethics
Context

There has been a doubling of reports of bullying, discrimination and harassment in the Ministry of Defence since 2019. Some cases remain unresolved for up to three years.

Question

Given the doubling of reports of bullying, discrimination and harassment in the Ministry of Defence since 2019, and some cases remaining unresolved for up to three years, what is the Minister doing to address the toxic culture in his Department? Why is it that such things seem to be worsening on this Government's watch?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

A lot has been done over the past two or three years, including setting up the defence serious crime unit and the defence victim witness care unit. We have a zero-tolerance approach, encouraging people to come forward knowing their complaints will be investigated independently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly address why reports are doubling or cases remaining unresolved for three years.

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