Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of (a) sexual assault, (b) sexual harassment, and (c) rape have resulted in criminal sentences for perpetrators following reported incidents involving armed forces personnel serving at RAF colleges in each of last five years.

During the last five years, the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) dealt with fewer than five cases of sexual offences resulting in a court martial for an alleged perpetrator based at Royal Air Force Colleges that resulted in a conviction.

There were no convictions at court martial relating to rape during the same period.

Sexual harassment is not an offence under civil or military law, although there is a policy of zero tolerance to any form of unacceptable sexual behaviour in the Armed Forces.

The numbers above relate only to cases with charges directed by the SPA and where the defendant's unit was recorded as being RAF College Cranwell or RAF Halton, all of which undertake Phase 1 training. They do not take account of defendants who may be linked to other units.