§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the regulations of the British armed forces compare and differ from the armed forces of each of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states with regard to (a) the active participation of service personnel in public meetings, (b) the writing of letters to the press by service personnel, (c) equal pay for service women and men of the same rank, (d) maternity leave for service women and their right to return to their former jobs in the armed forces after childbirth, and (e) the opening up of all military occupations, including hi-tech and combat roles, to service women on an equal basis with men;
(2) how the regulations of the British armed forces compare and differ from the armed forces of each of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states 187W with regard to (a) the segregation of service women in all-female corps, (b) the legislation on homosexuality for service personnel, (c) the existence of an independent military ombudsman to investigate the individual complaints and grievances of service personnel, and (d) the right of service personnel facing disciplinary charges to have legal representation;
(3) how the regulations of the British armed forces compare and differ from the armed forces of each of the other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states with regard to (a) the active involvement of service personnel in political parties, (b) the active involvement of service personnel in political campaign and pressure groups, (c) the active participation of service personnel in trade unions and their right to take industrial action and (d) the active participation of service personnel in marches and demonstrations.
§ Mr. LeeThe information requested for other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member states could be provided only at disproportionate time and effort.
My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces will write in response to the various issues as they affect our own services.