Member

6: Clause 2, page 3, line 22, at end insert— “343AZAA Duty to identify service people(1) This section applies where, and so far as, a person specified in section 343AZA(4) exercises a public function which relates to a relevant matter in relation to that person.(2) The person must make arrangements to establish and record whether an individual in relation to whom the function is exercised is a service person.(3) The arrangements must enable the individual to state which of the descriptions in section 343B(1) applies to them, and in particular whether they are a current member of the reserve forces, and to correct or update that information.(4) No individual is required to answer, and a refusal to answer must not affect any entitlement to, or the provision of, any service.(5) The Secretary of State must, after consulting the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers and the relevant Northern Ireland department, issue guidance about arrangements under this section, including the form of words to be used; and a person specified in section 343AZA(4) must have regard to that guidance.(6) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament an annual report on the operation of this section.(7) In this section “service person” means a person falling within the definition of “service people” in section 343B(1).”Member’s explanatory statement This amendment would require bodies subject to the covenant duty in Clause 2 to ask and record whether an individual belongs to the armed forces community, distinguishing current reserve service from veteran status. Answering would remain voluntary.