§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by Lieutenant Colonel Hawley in his October 1998 report that scoped the scale and nature of psychological morbidity among Army recruits; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [162273]
§ Mr. IngramLieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper on A Study of Attempted Suicide in the Army: 10 Years of Experience 1987 to 1996 came to the following conclusions
a prospective cohort study should be undertaken over a period of five years to confirm the findings of this scoping study and to extend the analysis;a review of the current selection criteria for entry into the Army should be undertaken in order to help select individuals appropriately;856Wa formalisation of the criteria for dealing and disposing of individuals who have attempted suicide should be completed;training in the identification of individuals at risk should be introduced to all leadership courses.This paper was not commissioned by the Army but produced as a result of private academic research in 1998. The report was not seen by the Chain of Command at the time and no action was taken. It coincided with a more major body of official research, the Walton Report. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of Lieutenant Colonel Hawley's paper in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached by the 1996 Walton report on circumstances relating to unnatural deaths in the Army; what recommendations were made; how many of these were acted upon; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [162272]
§ Mr. IngramDr. Suzy Walton's research into Suicide in the British Army resulted in a report that was published in five part during the period December 1996 to September 1998. All recommendations have been acted upon. Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.