§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will introduce the proposed legislation to repeal the relevant provisions of the Sexual Offences Act relating to the armed forces.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe necessary amendment to section 1(5) of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 to decriminalise homosexual acts illegal under service law but legal in civilian law will be introduced as soon as the legislative programme allows.
§ Mr. Michael BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been discharged for inappropriate sexual conduct since 1 January 1991; and of those how many were(a) women, (b) men and (c) discharged for homosexual conduct.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIn 1991, the latest year for which figures are available, 25 male personnel were dismissed from the services following conviction for sexual offences of a non-homosexual nature and eight for sexual offences of a homosexual nature. No female personnel were convicted of sexual offences in 1991. Between 1 January 1991 and 15 February 1993, 58 male personnel and 46 female personnel were administratively discharged for being homosexual or engaging in homosexual activities. Information is not held centrally in respect of personnel administratively discharged following sexual misconduct of any other nature and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.