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Army Barracks (Deaths)

: I agree. That finding of the report is completely unsatisfactory and action is required in that area. Liberal Democrats also want to improve supervision levels so that vulnerable young people can be monitored and supported effectively. We support the setting up of an independent complaints commission for the armed forces. Recommendation 26 calls for the establishment of a commissioner of military complaints—an armed forces ombudsman for all the armed forces, not just for trainees. The Armed Forces Bill has a watered-down proposal for an independent element in redress procedures. The Blake review has a much more useful recommendation, which would address growing concern among the armed forces that their views on their conditions are just ignored. I suggest to the Minister that this is the opportunity to take an imaginative approach. Will he undertake to implement recommendation 24, which states that the Royal Military Police should be brought formally under Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary? Will measures to vet and train instructors be implemented, for the protection of young people? A number of important recommendations could be implemented by the Ministry of Defence now, and we are pressing for early implementation. If the recommendations of the report are fully implemented, closure may be achieved. If any good is to come from the terrible, tragic events at Deepcut, the MOD needs either to respond and transfer all resources necessary to make its under-18 training regime safe, or to consider whether it can continue to recruit such young people into the Army.