Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to update the Basic Eligibility And Entry Standards to the Royal Navy to allow applications from individuals with asthma when their condition is managed.

Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 Section 4 Annex D sets out the current medical entry standards for the Armed Forces for respiratory conditions, including asthma.

Medical entry standards, including those relating to asthma, are regularly reviewed by subject matter experts, military health professionals and military occupational physicians to ensure they are fair to everyone with aspirations of an Armed Forces career and are informed by the latest medical evidence and developments in treatment and diagnosis.

We are reviewing medical criteria as part of our work to look at recruitment. A detailed review of the annexes within Section 4 of JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is currently underway, with a wide range of specialists engaged. Updated annexes will be published as they are reviewed and endorsed.