DWYFOR Meirionnydd’s MP has condemned the armed forces for recruiting 16-year-olds despite evidence that young soldiers are more likely to suffer in later life.

Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts (pictured) lead a debate in Westminster Hall last week urging the UK Government to review the minimum age at which a person can be enlisted to the armed forces.

A report published by health charity, Medact, in October found that child recruits are more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol abuse, self-harm, suicide, death and injury during an armed forces career when compared to either their demographically-matched civilian peers or adult recruits.

Ms Saville Roberts also criticised the Ministry of Defence for offering qualifications to young recruits that the department for education considers to “suffer from major and fundamental flaws”, arguing that young soldiers deserve the same educational opportunities as their civilian friends.

Numerous international bodies have condemned the United Kingdom for its policy of enlisting children including the United Nations, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Unicef.

Mrs Saville Roberts MP said: “I have sought this debate because I am concerned about the welfare of young people who join the armed forces.

“Some believe that any questioning of armed forces’ or Ministry of Defence policy is somehow an “attack” on the institution as a whole. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is not ‘attacking the army’ to express a desire that soldiers be treated well, and treated fairly, and that their short and long-term welfare is considered a priority in the recruitment and training process."

Read the full story in this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News