Medact Report on British Armed Forces Recruitment

The motion

That the Parliament acknowledges the recent report from the health charity, Medact, on the recruitment of under 18s into the British armed forces; notes that the main findings of the report state that child recruits are more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol abuse, self-harm, suicide, death and injury during an armed forces career when compared with adult recruits; considers that military recruitment marketing takes advantage of adolescent cognitive and psychosocial vulnerabilities among under 18s; further considers that the current practices for recruiting children into the armed forces do not meet the criteria for full and informed consent; believes that those recruited as children, upon turning 18, are more likely than adult recruits to end up in frontline combat roles, which carry greater risks than other roles; is dismayed to note that recruitment of children into the armed forces can start at age 15; understands that the 2007 armed forces document, Engagement with UK Schools, indicated that the main driver of armed forces visits to schools was with the purpose of recruitment; believes that this is reiterated further in the Ministry of Defence's 2011 Youth Engagement Review, and encourages members from across the Parliament, as well as those with experience of working with children and young people, to read the Medact report.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

SNP 18 Green 5 Lab 2

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S5M-02539 by reference.