Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to update the Basic Eligibility And Entry Standards to the Royal Navy to allow applications from individuals with asthma when their condition is managed.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 Section 4 Annex D sets out the current medical entry standards for the Armed Forces for respiratory conditions, including asthma.
Medical entry standards, including those relating to asthma, are regularly reviewed by subject matter experts, military health professionals and military occupational physicians to ensure they are fair to everyone with aspirations of an Armed Forces career and are informed by the latest medical evidence and developments in treatment and diagnosis.
We are reviewing medical criteria as part of our work to look at recruitment. A detailed review of the annexes within Section 4 of JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is currently underway, with a wide range of specialists engaged. Updated annexes will be published as they are reviewed and endorsed.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help reduce the risk of members of the armed forces developing gambling disorders.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes problem-gambling seriously. We provide financial awareness training for our people so that they are enabled to make informed financial decisions. Defence also offers welfare support to those who are adversely affected by problem-gambling, which can include signposting to specialist support organisations such as the NHS Problem Gambling Clinic. Defence has also established a team to consider appropriate responses to addictions, including problem-gambling, under the remit of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which was published in June 2022. This team is commissioning a new gambling awareness and harm reduction service, due to start in April 2023, further developing our understanding of problem-gambling in the Armed Forces by supporting high quality academic research, engaging across government with policy experts from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, and developing additional appropriate clinical treatment pathways that will be delivered by Defence Primary Healthcare teams. Defence also blocks gambling websites on its networks in order to reduce their accessibility.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilians have been injured by British airstrikes against ISIS-K as part of the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, including the number of (a) children and (b) identifying family groups.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has not conducted any airstrikes against ISIS-K under Operation HERRICK or Operation TORAL.
Under Operation SHADER, the UK's contribution to the US-led Coalition, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, the UK has conducted airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The UK has accepted responsibility for one Civilian Casualty that occurred during an airstrike on Daesh fighters in eastern Syria on the 26th March 2018. This incident was subject to a Written Ministerial Statement on 2 May 2018.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilians have been killed by British airstrikes against ISIS-K as part of the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria, including the number of (a) children and (b) identifying family groups.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK has not conducted any airstrikes against ISIS-K under Operation HERRICK or Operation TORAL.
Under Operation SHADER, the UK's contribution to the US-led Coalition, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, the UK has conducted airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The UK has accepted responsibility for one Civilian Casualty that occurred during an airstrike on Daesh fighters in eastern Syria on the 26th March 2018. This incident was subject to a Written Ministerial Statement on 2 May 2018.