§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy is operated by the armed forces if serving personnel declare they can no longer, for reasons of conscience, undertake military duties. [46777]
§ Dr. Reid[holding answer 22 June 1998]My Department has a well established appeal procedure for Service personnel who, for reasons of conscience, feel unable to continue service. These cases are first considered by the individual's chain of command, and if the conscientious objection is considered to be genuine, arrangements are made for the applicant to be administratively discharged on compassionate grounds.
If, after consideration, a conscientious objection is not assessed to be genuine, it will be rejected. Unsuccessful applicants are, however, advised that they may appeal to the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors. This Committee is independent of the MOD and its members are appointed by the Lord Chancellor. It conducts its hearings in public and tenders its advice to the Secretary of State for Defence's representative. A successful appeal to the Advisory Committee is invariably accepted by the Department and the applicant will immediately be granted a release from the Service.