§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his consultations with the chiefs of staff on the treatment of homosexuals in the armed forces. [52218]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe issue of homosexuality and the Armed Forces will be reviewed in this Parliament, as part of the policy reviews undertaken in preparation for the passage of the next Armed Forces Bill due in 2001. The Government will form a view on the weight of the evidence, taking into consideration EC and national law as well as the views of the Armed Forces. We will then seek to establish the way forward in consultation with the Chiefs of Staff.