HC Deb 14 March 1995 vol 256 c522W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans of the Gulf war in(a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy have committed suicide in each of the years since the Gulf war.

Mr. Soames

Since the Gulf war, one naval Gulf war veteran has committed suicide, in 1991. There have been no suicides by Army veterans of the Gulf war. The figures for the RAF are as follows:

  • 1991: 2
  • 1992: 0
  • 1993: 2
  • 1994: 1

These numbers related only to those veterans of the Gulf war who were still serving with the armed forces at the time of their suicide.

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of(a) the Army, (b) the RAF and (c) the Royal Navy have committed suicide in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Soames

The numbers of service personnel confirmed by the coroner to have committed suicide in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available are as follows:

Royal Navy1 Army RAF
1984 2 18 9
1985 5 19 7
1986 7 19 13
1987 4 15 8
1988 6 28 8
1989 4 26 6
1990 9 23 16
1991 7 26 10
1992 6 22 7
1993 1 22 10
1 includes the Royal Marines