§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been made about cruelty or brutality in the armed forces in each of the last four years.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is not held centrally and could only be collected with disproportionate cost and effort.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many cases in each of the last four years disciplinary proceedings have been taken because of unfair, cruel or brutal treatment in the armed forces.
§ Mr. FreemanI shall reply shortly.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to investigate allegations of cruelty and brutality in the armed forces; and whether the results of any inquiries will be published.
§ Mr. FreemanAll allegations of cruelty or brutality in the armed forces are fully investigated. Appropriate disciplinary and redress of grievance procedures exist to deal with them.
Investigation reports are not normally published but the results are made available on request.