PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(24 November 2025)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing routine monitoring and data collection on neurodivergent Service Personnel, including those with conditions beyond Specific Learning Differences; and whether his Department plans to revise the guidance entitled JSP 822, Volume 7, to require such monitoring.

Asked by:
Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to a diverse workforce and regularly reviews both its policies and its data collection requirements on neurodiversity, however, there are no current plans to revise Joint Service Publication 822 Defence Direction for Training and Education (Volume 7, Specific Learning Differences) to specifically require monitoring of neurodiversity status.

As at 1 July 2025, two per cent of Serving UK Regular Armed Forces personnel had a read code for autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia entered into their electronic medical record. This figure is a minimum; if personnel have not discussed their condition with their military GP, they will not have a read code for the condition in their medical record.

Answered by:
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