Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the provision of information to families of service personnel injured or killed in(a) war zones and (b) peacetime training exercises; and if he will make a statement. [18291]
§ Mr. SoamesIt is my Department's policy to inform the next of kin of members of the armed forces who are killed or injured in the course of their duty as quickly and as fully as possible of the undisputed facts. Since December 1992, in recognition of the special position of next of kin, service board of inquiry reports have been made available to the nominated next of kin of deceased service personnel, or to the individual in cases of serious permanent injury, should they so request, subject only to the essential minimum of security requirements. No distinction is made between whether the death or injury occurs in a war zone or on a peacetime training exercise.