Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gambling harms among serving members of the Armed Forces.

Defence recognises that gambling-related harms can have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of Service personnel. In addition to the limits placed on gambling by Kings Regulations, active efforts are made to highlight both the harms of problem gambling and the available support, in awareness campaigns.

Defence has worked with Swansea University to help understand gambling harms. This research and other academic work inform our current assessment of the levels of gambling harms specifically within the Serving population.

Further initiatives to build understanding include the new Defence Primary Healthcare Gambling pathway, which has been developed by the Defence Medical Services to ensure there is robust clinical pathway for those at risk, but will also present an opportunity to collect information to inform targeted interventions.

The Defence Public Health Unit engages proactively with Department of Health counterparts and will continue to work cross-Government to secure the best possible evidence and insight into how to support Service personnel with gambling issues. Alongside the Single Services, the Public Health Unit continues to work with external agencies and charities that offer support to Service personnel.