Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of routinely taking forensic evidence in military hospitals, where injuries were sustained as a result of alleged military sexual assault or rape.

Defence does not have any military hospitals in the UK. Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) run by the NHS remain the primary facility for military victims/survivors of rape or sexual assault to be examined by specialist medical and forensic services. SARCs are purpose designed to be multi-functional, for interviews, forensic examinations and counselling services to be undertaken by specialist staff.