§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many letters his Department has received since 1979 concerning allegations of maltreatment or brutality in the armed services.
§ Mr. FreemanThis information is not held centrally and could be obtained only with disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men have asked to leave the armed services during the last eight years because of maltreatment or brutality.
§ Mr. FreemanThis information is not held centrally. If a service man indicated that his desire to leave the armed forces was due to maltreatment or brutality the allegations would be fully investigated under the arrangements set out in my reply to the right hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 23 March at column2.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many courts martial have been held since 1979 concerning allegations of maltreatment or brutality in the armed forces.
384W(2) on how many occasions since 1979 his Department has held an internal inquiry concerning maltreatment and brutality in the armed forces.
§ Mr. FreemanI shall reply shortly.