To ask the Secretary of State for Defence

(1) what the limits are of confidentiality offered by the Padre or religious counsellor in an Army barracks setting; what (a) guidelines and (b) advice are available to newly appointed officers regarding the limits of such confidentiality; and what provisions are made for periodic advice on the subject to be given to such appointees through the chain of command;

(2) on how many occasions in the past five years complaints have been made concerning the Padre or religious counsellor in (a) Catterick, (b) Deepcut, (c) Bullingdon barracks and (d) HMS Lympstone; what disciplinary action was taken in each case; and what the outcome was of that action;

(3) if he will place in the Library the advice and directions regarding confidentiality and complaints concerning bullying that have been given through the chain of command to the Padre or religious counsellors at Catterick barracks.

All welfare work, including that conducted by Chaplains or religious counsellors, is conducted within the Army code of confidentiality, information about which is widely available throughout the Army.

The core element of the code of confidentiality is the legal and professional obligation not to disclose private information" about another without consent. There are however exceptional circumstances when information can be disclosed, and in some circumstances must be done so without an individual's consent. These are:

Where there is a risk of harm to the individual or others

In order to prevent a serious criminal act

If there is a serious contravention of military law

If there is, or likely to be, a serious breach of national security

If the soldier is no longer able to carry out his/her duty (and not disclosing would have a detrimental effect on operational effectiveness)

There have been no formal complaints in the last five years against Chaplains at any of the establishments listed.