Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer given to WPQ 3302, what a) timeline they are putting in place to review and complete their assessment of the applications submitted to the Structures Fund and b) what timeline do they expect Local Authorities to complete the work once their application has been approved.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Local highway authorities have until 3 August to put forward proposed schemes for investment. The Department will then assess these proposals and announce funding in the Autumn. Local highway authorities will need to complete delivery of schemes by the end of March 2030.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of (a) non-compliant and (b) illicit vaping products on defence premises and naval vessels.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) monitors the prevalence of smoking among Armed Forces personnel using routinely collected health data. As of April 2026, nine per cent of Service Personnel were recorded as current smokers, compared to 13 per cent in April 2024. This is broadly in line with the UK population.
The MOD provides access to smoking cessation support for Armed Forces personnel through Defence Primary Healthcare, delivered in line with national clinical guidance. Service Personnel can access in-house cessation services, including NICE-aligned support.
Defence policy aligns with UK health guidance, which recognises vaping as a potential smoking cessation aid. Support for vaping cessation is provided through primary care, including both pharmacological and behavioural approaches.
The Department continues to develop its approach, including targeted initiatives for personnel in training and updates to the Defence medical policy on tobacco and nicotine cessation.
All units are required to comply with Defence Health and Wellbeing policy, including provisions relating to designated vaping areas, with detailed requirements set out in unit standing orders. Compliance with these policies is monitored at a local level and assured through established processes.
Monitoring provides oversight of the use of illegal or non-compliant products, such as single-use vaping devices, and ensuring that appropriate plans are in place to support personnel in reducing or ceasing nicotine use.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on (a) vaping cessation support and (b) smoking cessation support for armed forces personnel.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) monitors the prevalence of smoking among Armed Forces personnel using routinely collected health data. As of April 2026, nine per cent of Service Personnel were recorded as current smokers, compared to 13 per cent in April 2024. This is broadly in line with the UK population.
The MOD provides access to smoking cessation support for Armed Forces personnel through Defence Primary Healthcare, delivered in line with national clinical guidance. Service Personnel can access in-house cessation services, including NICE-aligned support.
Defence policy aligns with UK health guidance, which recognises vaping as a potential smoking cessation aid. Support for vaping cessation is provided through primary care, including both pharmacological and behavioural approaches.
The Department continues to develop its approach, including targeted initiatives for personnel in training and updates to the Defence medical policy on tobacco and nicotine cessation.
All units are required to comply with Defence Health and Wellbeing policy, including provisions relating to designated vaping areas, with detailed requirements set out in unit standing orders. Compliance with these policies is monitored at a local level and assured through established processes.
Monitoring provides oversight of the use of illegal or non-compliant products, such as single-use vaping devices, and ensuring that appropriate plans are in place to support personnel in reducing or ceasing nicotine use.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment his Department has made of smoking prevalence among armed forces personnel.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) monitors the prevalence of smoking among Armed Forces personnel using routinely collected health data. As of April 2026, nine per cent of Service Personnel were recorded as current smokers, compared to 13 per cent in April 2024. This is broadly in line with the UK population.
The MOD provides access to smoking cessation support for Armed Forces personnel through Defence Primary Healthcare, delivered in line with national clinical guidance. Service Personnel can access in-house cessation services, including NICE-aligned support.
Defence policy aligns with UK health guidance, which recognises vaping as a potential smoking cessation aid. Support for vaping cessation is provided through primary care, including both pharmacological and behavioural approaches.
The Department continues to develop its approach, including targeted initiatives for personnel in training and updates to the Defence medical policy on tobacco and nicotine cessation.
All units are required to comply with Defence Health and Wellbeing policy, including provisions relating to designated vaping areas, with detailed requirements set out in unit standing orders. Compliance with these policies is monitored at a local level and assured through established processes.
Monitoring provides oversight of the use of illegal or non-compliant products, such as single-use vaping devices, and ensuring that appropriate plans are in place to support personnel in reducing or ceasing nicotine use.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding has been allocated to (a) the treatment of asbestos-related illnesses and b) research into asbestos-related illnesses.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is no pre-allocated funding amount for the treatment of asbestos-related health conditions. The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes applications on any aspect of health and care, including research into asbestos-related illnesses.
Between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 financial years, through the NIHR, the Department committed over £8.6 million for new research projects alongside supporting infrastructure into asbestos-related illnesses. Research supported by the NIHR is improving our understanding of the biological mechanisms underpinning lung diseases caused by asbestos, including mesothelioma and interstitial lung disease, as well as investigating novel diagnostics and treatment. Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the NIHR’s Research Delivery Network supported 22 new studies on asbestos-related illnesses, which recruited over 2,900 participants.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides guidance on the health effects and toxicology of asbestos, including advice to support incident response for the general public and inform wider public health management. This published guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information
UKHSA also provides scientific support to other Government departments, including contributions to risk assessment work on asbestos in consumer products.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress her Department has made on assessing applications to the Structures Fund.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In April, the Department published the Structures Fund’s prospectus, setting out the fund’s investment criteria and how local highway authorities can put forward proposals for funding. Local highway authorities have until 3 August to put forward proposals for investment. Proposals will then be assessed by the Department.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training are subject to staged exit restrictions when seeking to leave service.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.
After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.
Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.
All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.
In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether provisions allow the immediate discharge of an under-18 year old recruit from Army training on safeguarding or welfare grounds, including where there are allegations of abuse; and whether such discharge can occur without the requirement to complete notice periods or cooling-off periods.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.
After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.
Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.
All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.
In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information is provided to under-18-year-old recruits in Army training regarding their right to leave service, and at what point in training this information is communicated.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
All recruits have a statutory right to discharge, known as Discharge as of Right (DAOR). If under 18 at attestation, they may terminate their service at any time after completing 28 days of full-time paid duty and before six months have elapsed from their first day of service, by giving at least 14 days’ written notice to their Commanding Officer (CO). The CO may reduce the notice period at their discretion.
After six months, under-18s can apply to leave up to their 18th birthday but must give written notice and observe a cooling-off period of up to three months, which may be shortened by agreement. They can withdraw their notice during this period.
Commanders must ensure that under-18 recruits are fully informed of their rights to discharge and must facilitate their safe return to parents, guardians, or appropriate care arrangements. Support includes travel arrangements, accommodation if necessary, reimbursement of reasonable expenses, and follow-up to confirm safe arrival. This process safeguards both the recruit’s statutory rights and welfare.
All recruits and Junior Soldiers receive formal briefing on their right to Discharge as of Right during the Officer Commanding’s Week one induction.
In exceptional cases where family or welfare circumstances necessitate an under-18 recruit’s early release, the CO may apply to the competent Service authority to terminate the soldier’s service without requiring the usual 14 days’ notice or adherence to the six-month period. This provision allows for immediate discharge on safeguarding or welfare grounds, ensuring the recruit’s welfare is prioritised.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training have (a) requested to leave service, (b) been required to observe a cooling-off period, (c) had their discharge delayed beyond 14 days, and (d) been refused discharge, in each year since 2016.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence holds data on the number of under-18-year-old recruits in Army initial training who have requested to leave service only from Training Year 2023-24 onwards. Data prior to this period is not available.
(a) Number of under-18 recruits who requested to leave service:
Training Year | Discharge Requests Among Under 18s |
2023-24 | 197 |
2024-25 | 298 |
2025-26 | 308 |
2026-27* | 131 |
*Training Year 2026-27 is ongoing; figures are correct as of 15 May 2026.
Data on the number of recruits required to observe a “cooling-off” period is not held, nor do we hold data on the number of under-18 discharges delayed beyond 14 days. Recruits are formally interviewed to confirm their reasons for requesting discharge and may be encouraged to reflect; however, if a recruit elects to proceed with Discharge As of Right (DAOR), their statutory entitlement is enacted without delay.
There are no recorded instances of under-18 recruits being refused discharge within the DAOR window.