Sexual Orientation in the Armed Forces.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I read with interest the recent reply given to the FOI question
asked by Mr Alvin Pritchard, and published on the
whatdotheyknow.com website, that the sexual orientation of current
serving members of the Armed Forces is regarded as a private
matter, therefore statistics are not kept. I would like to ask the
following questions, please treat them as requests for information
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

1. MOD Civil servants can record their sexual orientation on the
HRMS system for the purposes of allowing the MOD to ensure that all
anti-discrimination legislation is adhered to. I would like to know
why the MOD feels it necessary to ask for this information from
civil servants, but not from the Armed Forces. How does the MOD
ensure that it is fully complying with this legislation in regards
to the Armed Forces if this information is not held? If it can
comply with the legislation without holding this information, why
then does it feel it necessary to request this information from its
civilian staff?

2. Many Armed Forces personnel are required to have HRMS accounts,
especially where they manage civilian personnel or work in
so-called "purple" organisations where HRMS accounts are mandatory
(for example, DE&S). I would like to know how many members of the
Armed Forces who have provided the requisite information on
(i)HRMS, and (ii)any other similar system have declared their
sexual orientation as being anything other than heterosexual?

3. How many MOD civil servants who have provided the requisite
information on HRMS have declared their sexual orientation as being
anything other than heterosexual?

Yours faithfully,

Roger Varley
MOD Civil Servant

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Ministry of Defence's
handling of my FOI request 'Sexual Orientation in the Armed
Forces.'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/se...

I have received a reply to my question relating to civilians from
the PPPA, however my principal questions about the Armed Forces
remain unanswered, nor have I received any acknowledgement of when
I can expect a reply. I would remind you of the statutory 20
working day timescale for reply under the FOIA, and would point out
that this has now expired.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Varley