HC Deb 19 June 2002 vol 387 cc333-5W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2002,Official Report, column 473W, on armed forces personnel (deaths on military premises), (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the suicides involved a person below (i) 18 and (ii) 21. [61389]

Mr. Ingram

The data detailed in the table represent the number of armed forces personnel, whose deaths were recorded as suicides, which involved personnel below 18,21 and over 21 years respectively.

Number Percentage
Under 18
1994 0 0
1995 0 0
1996 0 0
1997 0 0
1998 0 0
1999 0 0
2000 0 0
2001 0 0
All years 0 0
Under 21
1994 5 17
1995 2 10
1996 4 17
1997 5 24
1998 2 18
1999 0 0
2000 2 20
2001 1 33
All years 21 17
21 and over
1994 25 83
1995 18 90
1996 20 83
1997 16 76
1998 9 82
1999 9 100
2000 8 80
2001 2 67
All years 107 83
Number Percentage
All ages
1994 30 100
1995 20 100
1996 24 100
1997 21 100
1998 11 100
1999 9 100
2000 10 100
2001 3 100
All years 128 100

Figures for reported suicides are subject to revision as further coroner's verdicts are reported to the Defence Analytical Services Agency.

Verdicts of suicide are determined by Her Majesty's coroner.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002,Official Report, column 942W, on firearm deaths, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the members of HM Forces whose deaths were recorded as a result of firearms incidents were (i) also recorded as suicide or self-inflicted deaths and (ii) below (A) 18 and (B) 21 years old. [61386]

Mr. Ingram

Those members of the armed forces whose deaths, as a result of firearm related incidents, were recorded as suicide and those who were below and over 21 years of age respectively, are shown in the table:

Number Percentage
Suicide
Under 21
1994 4 15
1995 2 10
1996 4 24
1997 0 0
1998 0 0
1999 0 0
2000 1 10
2001 0 0
Total 11 11
21 and over
1994 8 30
1995 6 30
1996 5 29
1997 3 60
1998 0 0
1999 0 0
2000 0 0
2001 0 0
Total 22 23
Suicide total
1994 12 44
1995 8 40
1996 9 53
1997 3 60
1998 0 0
1999 0 0
2000 1 10
2001 0 0
Total 33 34
Number Percentage
Other deaths due to firearms
1994 15 56
1995 12 60
1996 8 47
1997 2 40
1998 1 100
1999 7 100
2000 9 90
2001 9 100
Total 63 66
Total
1994 27 100
1995 20 100
1996 17 100
1997 5 100
1998 1 100
1999 7 100
2000 10 100
2001 9 100
Total 96 100

In total, 33 of the 96 firearm related deaths have been recorded as suicide. Cause of death can by determined only by Her Majesty's Coroner, therefore, deaths due to firearms excluding suicides may include deaths where a coroner's verdict is awaited. There have been no confirmed suicides in personnel aged under the age of 18 years in the years specified.