A MOTHER whose son died at an Army barracks will give evidence to MPs next week.

Lynn Farr's son, Private Daniel Farr, died at the Infantry Training Centre, in Catterick Garrsion, North Yorkshire, in 1997.

Since his death, Mrs Farr has set up Daniel's Trust, a voluntary organisation aimed at helping soldiers who are being bullied.

She works alongside Forces Helpline, run by Malcolm Thorn, of Skipton, North Yorkshire, and Ged Walton, of Thornaby, near Stockton.

On Thursday, she will address MPs sitting on the Defence Select Committee, in London, about the Armed Forces Bill.

An Armed Forces Bill is required every five years in order to continue legislation relating to service discipline and to make amendments.

Mrs Farr said: "I am very pleased to be attending the session. It is very important our voices are heard.

"I want to address them about Army Board of Inquiries, which are held after a soldier dies. Parents are not notified about these meetings and are not able to attend.

"I am hoping to push for changes. The trust also wants an independent complaints procedure introduced. I will also give evidence on the criminal records bureau (CRB). If anyone is going to work with trainees they should be subject to these checks.

"Other organisations who work with trainees get CRB clearance for instructors - the Army does not."

Mrs Farr wants to highlight the case of Leslie Skinner, a former training instructor at Deepcut, in Surrey, where Pte Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham, died from two gunshot wounds to the head.

Skinner, 46, was jailed in 2004 for four-and-a-half years for sex attacks on young male soldiers.

He was sent to Deepcut and reduced to the rank of private after being convicted by a court martial for indecently exposing himself, but was then put in charge of young recruits.

Skinner was also court martialled for a further indecent assault.

Mrs Farr said: "Often punishment is handed out to them by their commanding officer, they are not subject to checks and we do not hear about it. That is what happened in Skinner's case."