Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time taken was by each arm of the Armed Forces to make serving personnel available to the civilian police in connection with criminal investigations in the most recent period for which figures are available; and how many approaches the civilian police have made to the Armed Forces for access to serving personnel in relation to indictable offences.

This information is not held in the format requested. The civil police are not required to seek the assistance or permission of relevant arms of the Armed Forces in relation to serving personnel being made available in connection with criminal investigations. However, if such an approach is made, then the Service authorities will attempt to assist as far as they are able so to do.