Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether military officers are given specialist training to deal with reported cases of (a) domestic violence and (b) misogyny in the armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence has made it absolutely clear there is no place for unacceptable behaviour in the Armed Forces. Anyone found to fall short of the Services' high standards or to have committed an offence is dealt with appropriately, which may include imprisonment and dismissal from service.

All commanders are directed by policy to refer any concerns, allegations, or suspicions surrounding domestic abuse to the Service Police. This is reinforced on disciplinary courses. The Service Police, Unit Welfare Officers, and all those who are required to respond to and investigate such allegations, receive training on how to recognise and respond to domestic abuse.

Defence has policy, initiatives, and training to counter unacceptable behaviour as well as a significant strand of work on diversity and inclusion. A significant number of these work-strands focus on improving the lived experience of women in the Armed Forces and creating an inclusive environment in which they may thrive.