PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
DEEPCUT AND BEYOND CAMPAIGN (18 July 2005)

That this House applauds the courage and determination of bereaved families who have come together to establish the Deepcut and Beyond: Armed Forces Families' Justice Campaign, to seek truth for families of those whose deaths at Deepcut, Catterick and other barracks at home and overseas have not been investigated effectively, to seek justice in holding to account and prosecuting those responsible, and to seek change to protect other families and prevent future deaths; regrets that more than 2,000 members of the UK armed forces have lost their lives through non-natural causes since 1990; notes that more than 200 deaths have been caused by discharge of firearms and that more than 200 are described as self-inflicted; further notes the Independent Review of the Deepcut deaths being undertaken by Nicholas Blake QC; further notes the Defence Select Committee recommendation for establishment of a mechanism for independent oversight of the armed services; believes that the Army has a duty of care and protection towards all personnel, particularly young soldiers, and that the culture of secrecy surrounding the varied causes of these deaths must give way to greater transparency; further believes that the environment in which these deaths continue to occur and the absence of a system for prompt, effective and independent investigation has led to a breakdown in public confidence that can only be restored through a full and independent public inquiry; and urges the Government to establish such an inquiry without delay.

Sponsored by:
Mrs Joan Humble (Labour)