Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to increase rates of disclosure by armed services veterans of their histories of service and related issues at the (a) liaison and diversion stage, (b) sentencing stage and (c) other stages of the court process.

NHS England Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services place clinical staff at police stations and courts across England to provide assessments and referrals to treatment and support. Offenders, including veterans, may be diverted away from the criminal justice system altogether, away from charge, or to a community sentence with a treatment requirement. L&D services can support individuals with a range of vulnerabilities including those with mental health issues, substance misuse issues and learning disabilities.

Information on previous military service is also asked at first contact with probation, typically in court, and during screening on entry to custody.