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Louise Jones
LAB✓ Current MP
🏛️ North East Derbyshire
📅 2024–2026
187 speeches on Hansard record
✅ Votes attended: 91.37% (#58 of 650 MPs)
🟢 Rebelled against party: 0.00%
📝 Topics: Question, Criminal Proceedings: Victims, Ministry of Defence: Waste
🤝 Member of 6 All-Party Parliamentary Groups
Written Answers
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Ministry of Defence
The Royal Navy already employs a range of measures to support work‑life balance and to minimise the need for personnel to live on board when ships are in harbour, including the use of shore‑side accommodation, flexible duty arrangements, and planned maintenance periods designed to…
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It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
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The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) maintains a positive, equitable workplace for all seafarers. RFA employees benefit from comprehensive employment rights and conditions well exceeding Maritime Labour Convention standards, including robust…
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This Government is committed to ensuring that veterans and their families are easily able to access support in Leicester, the East Midlands and across the country, when and where it is needed. Late last year we launched a new Veterans Strategy which recognises veterans as a national asset and…
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As at 16 March 2026, the number of members awaiting their initial Remediable Service Statements (RSS) was 37,515.100,592 members have successfully been issued with their RSS. Any pension adjustments arising from members' elections will be backdated with interest to ensure members receive their full…
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The British Army upholds consistently high professional standards for all recruits undertaking Basic Training. Throughout this period, recruits are trained and mentored to ensure they meet and maintain these standards, not only during Basic Training, but throughout the entirety of their military…
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The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) are committed to providing a safe and high-quality environment for all members. Following a rigorous audit of statutory compliance records, activity has been temporarily suspended at several sites across the country. The suspensions were required to protect…
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The size and set-up of each ministerial private office can vary significantly, as they are often determined by the specific requirements and nature of the workload involved at any given time. This flexibility ensures that each office is best equipped to meet its unique responsibilities and demands.
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) reports Special Severance Payments in its Annual Report and Accounts in accordance with HM Treasury and FREM requirements. For core MOD, the audited figures published in the Annual Report and Accounts are as follows (rounded to the nearest £1,000): 2022–23:…
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Any suicide is a tragedy and is one too many. Our thoughts remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those affected. In 2024, for the first time ever, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published annual suicide rates (year 2021) for the veteran population in England and Wales…
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An unexpected failure of the data flows into Defence analytical systems meant that our usual data processing procedures could not be applied and we were therefore unable to derive the statistics or assure them to the usual standard. This has been rectified and steps are being taken to prevent it…
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I was first made aware of the unfinished draft document relating to historic nuclear testing at Christmas Island in December 2025. Following the release of the draft document by AWE, I wrote to interested MPs and LABRATS advising them of its release and explaining its contents on 2 March 2026.
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The fees paid to the Davies Group for the management of claims for the last five financial years (FY) are as follows: FY2020-21: £223,614FY2021-22: £461,521FY2022-23: £577,131FY2023-24: £482,598FY2024-25: £4,119,197 The significant increase in FY2024-25 is largely driven by…
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For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not disclose detailed information on internal force structures or strengths.
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The Army has consistently achieved the Direct Entry target for Regular Officer recruitment, demonstrating sustained effectiveness in meeting, and often exceeding, recruiting requirements. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst maintains strong retention, with an overall pass rate of 92% and 81% of…
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The Ministry of Defence does not recruit candidates on the basis of protected characteristics. All appointments are made on merit, in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. Compliance with these principles is overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission. Civil…
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Between February 2025 and 10 March 2026, there have been four multi-day workshops involving the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health and Social Care and UK health services to explore the UK’s ability to deal with casualties across a range of scenarios up to and including warfighting.
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The total cost of Operational Allowance paid to Service Personnel in each Financial Year since 2015-16, and the numbers in receipt, are set out below: Financial YearNumbers in receipt of Op Allowance Total Op…
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The vast majority of our Service Personnel - around 90% - are deployable at any point, with most of the remaining members of our Armed Forces employed in wider military roles.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 March 2026 to Question 116321, which remains extant. Army: Training (docx, 15.4KB)
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Applications to join the Army Reserve have reached their highest level in five years, with more than 5,000 active candidates currently in the pipeline. However, further work is required to strengthen the progression of applicants into trained Reservists. Improving this progression rate is a…
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The Army forecasts the impact to be in the region of 290 retentions to date. While there is no way to isolate the impact of this specific initiative from wider retention efforts, in seeking approval for this initiative, an assessment was made that c300 service personnel would be retained per year…
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The Strategic Defence Review recognises rebuilding medical capacity and capability within Defence is critical to ensure our Armed Forces remain fighting fit in peacetime and are prepared to meet operational demands when at war. Defence Medical Services (DMS) is working with the NHS to understand…
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The proportion of British Army Other Ranks who left Phase 1 Training is below. Reasons for leaving training during Phase 1 are numerous, but include issues such as medical conditions, discipline, false information given on joining (e.g. criminal conviction or under 18 without parent consent) and…
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In 2023 the Government announced a new scheme to allow public authorities to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty to celebrate the new reign. The National Museum of the Royal Navy accepted a portrait for each of its sites which includes the Royal Marines Museum and the Royal Navy Submarine…
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The member may wish to visit gov.uk for the full personnel statistics for the Armed Forces: Quarterly Service personnel statistics: 1 October 2025 - GOV.UK
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All recruitment into the UK military is voluntary and no young person under the age of 18 years may join our Armed Forces unless their application is accompanied by the formal written consent of their parent or guardian. We take the duty of care towards all recruits seriously, in particular those…
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The last government had 14 years to fix Defence family housing and failed, delivering instead record low levels of satisfaction. We reversed the disastrous privatisation of military housing. And our landmark £9 billion housing strategy will renew or repair 9 in 10 homes and we are legislating…
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This Labour Government was elected on a promise to renew the nations commitment with those who served – and we are acting.We've made record investment for our remarkable veterans alongside a landmark new Veterans Strategy celebrating them as a vital national asset. £50 million for…
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The publication of UK Armed Forces Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics for 1 Jan 2026 has been delayed due to technical issues affecting data quality and has a release date of 2 April 2026. This is stated in the Statistics release calendar: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics: 1 January 2026…
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VALOUR will give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRC) will enable veterans, and in due course the wider Armed Forces Community, to access in-person guidance and support. Applications for the first round of VALOUR…
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The selection process for appointing the first Armed Forces Commissioner remains in progress. The Armed Forces Commissioner will play a pivotal role in improving service life for Service Personnel and their families. It is essential that we identify and appoint the most suitable individual to…
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The Defence Serious Crime Command became operational on 5 December 2022 and since its inception has been independent of the single Service Chains of Command to protect its operational investigative independence. Under Clause 12 of the Armed Forces Bill 2026 we are introducing a Service Policing…
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This Government is fully committed to ensuring that veterans in Gloucester and across the UK have access to the support they need on housing. That is why we have committed an additional £12 million to ensure the continuation of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme. Op FORTITUDE has also…
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The transition from UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom) to Cyber and Strategic Operations Command (CSOC) was executed with a strong emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Up-front CSOC visual identity changes have currently incurred no additional cost by utilising pre-approved Ministry of…
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A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team. A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to…
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The Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) has a Professional Standards Department where people can raise complaints/concerns in respect of the DSCC and Victim Witness Care Unit. The Service Police Complaints Commissioner also provides oversight of the Service Police complaints process to raise…
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The Independent Legal Advocacy pilot will provide impartial legal support to anyone aged 18 or over, irrespective of whether they are Service personnel or civilians. Anyone who reports a sexual offence pursuant with the Sexual Offences Act 1956/2003, that has been committed by a Service…
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The Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce will address the cultural and behavioural drivers of unacceptable sexual behaviour, particularly against women, within the Armed Forces. Based on sites with significant training footprints, teams will work with local military training, welfare and…
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The Army Welfare Service (AWS) has the capacity, professional expertise, and national coverage required to provide safeguarding oversight, youth service provision, and coordinated mental health support to survivors of sexual assault across the Army. For youth services, the AWS Community Support…
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The Service Police Confidential crime line is monitored continuously by Service Police Officers employed within the Service Police Crime Bureau Operations Room. The service is widely publicised throughout the Services and on the internet, including but not limited to…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual Official Statistics into Murder, Manslaughter and Sexual Offending in the Service Justice System. Based on the latest Official Statistic data…
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The Victim Witness Care Unit (VWCU) has 15 Victim Liaison Officer positions. The assessment of VWCU’s standard and quality of service has to date been based on internal assurance, reviews and proactively acting upon feedback surveys from both clients (victims/witnesses) and professional…
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Commonwealth citizens are, and always will be, an important and valued part of the UK Armed Forces and we have never stopped recruiting them. Citizens of over 40 Commonwealth countries are currently serving in the UK Armed Forces, and as at 1 October 2025, there were 5,510 Commonwealth personnel in…
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As at 5 March 2026, 163 individuals are recorded as being employed on a visa by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or its Arm’s Length Bodies. MOD Civil Service jobs generally require candidates to be either UK nationals, Commonwealth citizens, or EEA nationals. Foreign nationals with valid visas,…
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This Government continues to hold those who serve, and who have served, in our Armed Forces, in the highest esteem. The question of whether a National Defence Medal should be introduced has previously been considered at length. The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD…
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Eligibility for the Wider Service Medal (WSM) in relation to Operation INTERFLEX was last reviewed by the Operational Recognition Board (ORB) on 20 November 2025. The Board recognises the challenges of prolonged separation for personnel serving on Operation INTERFLEX and Defence continues to…
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Operational Allowance (OA) is a location‑driven allowance that recognises increased and enduring danger in Specified Operational Locations (SOLs). The number of Service Personnel in receipt of OA reflects the number of Service Personnel deployed to SOLs. SOL status is kept under regular…
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The following table provides the number of applications rejected with the reason ‘Medical’ from 5 July 2024 to 31 January 2026. Total applications rejected for medical reasons between 5 July 2024 to 31 January 20261 Army45,680Royal Air Force12,310Royal Navy1,020[1] All figures have…
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No changes have been made to the job specification for the Armed Forces Commissioner.
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The Government has set out its expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of…
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Medical records do not attribute injuries to specific items of equipment, and therefore the Ministry of Defence is unable to provide the information requested. The Ministry of Defence remains firmly committed to ensuring that our service personnel are equipped with appropriate and sufficient…
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The Independent Legal Advocacy Support pilot will operate for 12 months from Spring 2026. It will provide advice to any complainant aged 18 or over, whether a Service person or a civilian, where the alleged perpetrator is a Service person subject to Service law or a civilian subject to Service…
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The Government greatly values the exceptional and longstanding contribution made by Gurkha soldiers to the United Kingdom. Since 2007, Gurkhas have received the same pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as the rest of the UK Armed Forces. For those who served prior to 2007, for the large…
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As previously advised, the appointment followed an external competition and was approved by the Prime Minister.
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Op COURAGE and RESTORE are both NHS initiatives; to date Op COURAGE has received 35,000 referrals, whilst over 1,000 veterans have used the Op RESTORE service.VALOUR is a programme which will give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. There are…
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The Royal Air Force (RAF) has assessed options for reservist pilots to bolster our F35 force and concluded that this model is not appropriate for the RAF at this time.The investment in time and money to train a part-time pilot on F35 and keep them sufficiently trained and current to operate the…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducts a financial tracing exercise for the unclaimed pension cohort using the following fields: National Insurance number, forename, middle name, surname, date of birth, and previous address if held. The tracing uses all fields to search and will confirm whether…
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There is ongoing work between Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS to review system-wide capacity and shape and plan the UK’s approach to respond collectively as health services to meet the demands of warfighting. The latest in a series of…
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) routinely uses a blend of inhouse capability and contracted support to deliver marine engineering, logistics, and operational services in line with longstanding Defence Maritime Support policy. This work is commissioned on a vessel-by-vessel basis and varies from…
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The Ministry of Defence maintains regular engagement with appropriate stakeholders concerning matters affecting the operational roles and capabilities of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
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Official statistical information regarding all civilians employed within the Ministry of Defence is released biannually. The last release was on 1 October 2025 and included the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. More information can be found at:…
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The number of part time personnel who served in the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions from its formation on 1 July 1992 until August 2007 is shown below:…
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Electronic data is only held going back to 1984, prior to this the only information held is on the 1975 and 1980 strengths. This information can be found below.The Ulster Defence Regiment Part Time Strength as at 1 April 1975, 1 April 1980 and from 1 April 1984 - 1 April…
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I am grateful for the contribution of our Reserve Forces, who help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and abroad, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need in a cost‑effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills and experience that Reserves…
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There is no projected impact to Army Basic Training capacity due to the closure of Army Training Regiment Winchester.
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Al Carns) on 16 July 2025 to Question 65995 to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-08/65995
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Uptake varies according to operational cycles, but participation consistently fluctuates between nine and 10 per cent of the total workforce. These arrangements continue to support individual choice while maintaining operational resilience.
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The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out how our national security is defended by our Armed Forces, that they are only as strong as the defence sector which equips them, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a unique asset to Government, which we continue to invest in,…
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The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary remains essential in supporting operations alongside the Royal Navy and our global allies. They continue to meet their operational commitments, and we are dedicated to resolving this dispute through ongoing dialogue with their trade unions.
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Contracted maritime support is delivered through a number of commercial providers, who are responsible for recruiting and managing their own workforces to meet contractual requirements.
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The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost; however, Structured Mental Health Assessments (SMHAs) are typically conducted in person as part of the release medical provided on discharge from the Armed Forces.
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Royal Fleet Auxillary salaries are benchmarked against comparable roles across the wider maritime industry to ensure competitiveness and reflect market conditions. Constructive pay discussions with the Maritime Trade Unions are ongoing, focused on supporting retention and delivering a modern,…
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Veterans’ healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS; however, where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, DMS works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of facilitating the transfer of healthcare information to civilian healthcare provider(s) when an individual leaves the Armed Forces. Service Personnel are issued with an FMed133 at their final medical. Final medicals are completed within the…
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The Ministry of Defence follows HM Government policy published on gov.uk on the use of WhatsApp. This recognises that non-corporate communication channels such as WhatsApp may be used exceptionally provided due care is given for security and recordkeeping. ‘Disappearing message’…
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It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
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This Government has reset the relationship with Nuclear Test Veterans and the organisations that support them. We remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them. In consultation with scientists at the UK Health Security Agency, we have established that…
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The information in ES38/ZGWGV suggests that Service personnel were involved in at least one sampling sortie after the Tsar Bomba test in October 1961. However, the unit records from this time are now held by The National Archives, and it is not possible to complete a full search without incurring…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeks to recover overpayments regardless of the reason they occurred because it has a legal and financial obligation to protect public funds. This principle applies universally to ensure consistency, fairness, and accountability in the management of taxpayers' money.…
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This information is not held in the format requested. A manual review of all overpayments would be required in order to identify if there is a dispute relating to the pension entitlements being incorrectly calculated which would incur a disproportionate cost to obtain.
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) complies with the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, as mandated by law. In respect of those provisions that are not legally binding, the RFA endeavours to uphold an equivalent standard wherever practicable. Deviation from these standards will…
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RFA seafarers already receive the full statutory rights provided under the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2024 and the Employment Rights Act 2025. Since September 2025, the RFA has operated an independent assessment system, supported by external advocacy and assurance, to ensure all…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 February 2026 to Question 112387 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).Reserve Forces (docx, 15.4KB)
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The Department continues to engage widely across Defence, Government and the maritime sector in support of the RFA workforce transformation programme. This includes structured consultation with internal governance boards, representative bodies, specialist HR, legal and career management functions,…
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The Department has no plans to refurbish the War Memorial at St Lucia Barracks, as the site is currently in the process of disposal. Responsibility for any future refurbishment will fall to the new owner. The memorial tablet to the fallen soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers…
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The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Armed Forces and Veterans Services (AFVS), known as Veterans UK, administer the War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Medical discharge cases are prioritised following the claims consideration process. This involves establishing Service-related…
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While there is currently no specific date for the completion of these cases, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working through them as quickly as possible and is monitoring progress with the contractor on a weekly basis.The outstanding cases are inherently complex and are being prioritised to ensure…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD), along with other Government Departments, is committed to Smarter Working and much of our workforce has embraced the benefits of hybrid working, both for the business and themselves. We have implemented Government direction on increased office attendance and, as a…
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Defence is working closely with local councils, veteran employers, LGBT and Service charities, as well as the Services, to enhance awareness among affected veterans about the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme and how they may apply. As part of this outreach activity, we are working to identify…
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Defence is committed to ensuring that applications to the LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme are considered fairly and processed as quickly as possible. We recognise the importance of timely decisions, and are prioritising applications for those aged over 80, those…
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Tri-Service Medical Policy (Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950) sets out the standards and guidance for assessing medical conditions across the Armed Forces. Whilst JSP 950 provides consistency across the Services in terms of procedures and governance, each Service applies these standards…
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When an individual leaves the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of facilitating the transfer of healthcare information to their civilian healthcare provider(s). On leaving Defence Medical Services (DMS) care, Service personnel are provided with a medical care…
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Applications for the voluntary exit scheme closed on 23 January 2026. This is not a redundancy process but provides eligible employees with the opportunity to leave the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a voluntary basis. The scheme is targeted at specific in-scope groups, based on future organisational…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not contract directly with crewing agencies. Where maritime outputs are delivered by civilian mariners, prime contractors are responsible for selecting, employing and managing any crewing agencies they use. As such, the Department does not hold a centrally…
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Where civilian mariners are employed by contractors to deliver Ministry of Defence (MOD) maritime outputs, the Department ensures appropriate oversight through the contractual framework. Contractors are required to comply with UK maritime law, the Maritime Labour Convention, and all relevant…
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The Merchant Shipping Order provides a foundation for seafarers’ rights. For the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), these statutory measures are substantially augmented by a comprehensive suite of policies supporting all employees through every life event, offering protections and benefits well in…
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The Government is committed to supporting its people who act reasonably and in good faith in the course of their duties. Legal advice and welfare support are available to all Serving and former members of the Armed Forces, where they face criminal or civil allegations that relate to their Service.…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is expanding its communications to better reach those with unclaimed pensions, developing new online materials specifically aimed at deferred members who have not yet submitted a claim. The Defence contribution to the National Pensions Dashboards Programme will provide…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that high‑quality Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is essential to the welfare, retention and operational readiness of our Armed Forces personnel. The SLA and Overseas Accommodation Review launched earlier this year is focused on identifying…
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There are three civil servants in the role of HR Director operating across the Ministry of Defence, including Arm’s-Length Bodies. All these hold qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
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The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) was designed to address the broadest range of experiences possible to ensure the inclusion of, and a sense of closure for, all affected by the Ban. There are therefore two types of payment available under the FRS. Those who were dismissed or…
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The information requested is shown below.Where available, costs for the three Service Police forces for each Financial Year (FY) since 2015 are shown in the folloing tables. Royal Navy: FY18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25…
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Defence’s transition to a skills‑based organisation is driven by the Pan‑Defence Skills Framework (PDSF). PDSF provides a single, governed set of skills that enables objective capability assessment and establishes a common language for identifying, defining, and managing skills.…
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We are proud of the gender diversity within the cadet organisations. As of April 2025, girls made up 36% of cadets in the community Cadet Forces and 39% in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), with the proportion of girls growing in both settings since April 2021. We are working to deliver the Strategic…
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The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. There have been no reductions in RSD by the Services for the current financial year.
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Due to the ongoing legal process, it is not possible to provide a substantive comment on the case. The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the judgment in detail to understand its implications fully and a further update will be provided once that assessment is complete.
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Further to the answer provided to Question 106994, and recognising the gravity of this issue, the Department has been working to identify teams and bodies who may have, or may have had, an interest in this work. This may include entities which are now arms-length bodies. As may be expected, the…
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The Home Office and the Ministry of Defence are working closely together to identify appropriate military and non-military sites which can be utilised to meet the Government’s aim of closing all asylum hotels.This includes ensuring that service personnel and their families near to sites…
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When an individual leaves the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of facilitating the transfer of healthcare information to their civilian healthcare provider(s). On leaving Defence Medical Services (DMS) care, Service personnel are provided with a medical care…
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) already offers Serving Personnel, and Veterans in receipt of a pension, the opportunity to save with our three credit unions (https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/) via payroll deduction administered by Defence Business Services. MOD Civil Servants and Veterans without a…
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Officer training in the UK Armed Forces is accessible to any UK citizen who meets the academic, aptitude, physical and medical requirements, irrespective of the candidate’s social background or type of education. Of the intake to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Army) who are due to…
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The table below shows the total amount spent each Financial Year (FY) on Civilian Human Resources Services and their associated costs provided by Defence Business Services, the Shared Service for Defence. This includes spend on the following DBS services: People Team, Core Recruitment and Joining…
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All personnel being discharged from the Armed Forces should receive a Structured Mental Health Assessment (SMHA). The primary intent of the SMHA is to identify any unmet or unaddressed mental health needs prior to discharge. The following table provides the numbers of UK Armed Forces personnel…
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I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
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An initial month-long recruitment pause was introduced in October 2025 across the Department as one of a range of workforce levers to facilitate a measured and sustainable approach to workforce reductions. The pause has been extended and is currently being reviewed. Throughout the pause, business…
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The Government has committed to spending 2.6% of GDP on defence from 2027, and we have set the ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions. Over this Spending Review period, this Government will invest over £270 billion in cash terms in defence. This…
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Since 5 July 2024, the Ministry of Defence has instigated one targeted voluntary exit scheme; this was launched on 6 Jan 2026. This scheme is Department-wide but targeted at certain professional cohorts and forms part of our response to workforce planning objectives set out in the Strategic Defence…
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In line with recommendations from the Strategic Defence Review the Ministry of Defence aims to reduce Civil Service costs by at least 10% by 2030. To achieve this, the Department is employing a range of workforce levers to facilitate a measured and sustainable approach to workforce reductions. As…
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The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. The Army is currently conducting a review of Army Reserve tasks, including those for 3 (UK) Division, through the Field Army’s Force Commitments Exercise which…
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Service personnel on deployed operations in the following Specified Operational Locations qualify for the payment of Operational Allowance: Chad (all locations)Egypt (Sinai only)Iraq (all locations)Mali (all locations)Somalia (all locations)South Sudan (all locations)Democratic Republic of Congo…
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Ministry of Defence (MOD) Claims statistics are published annually. The next MOD common law compensation claims statistics will be published this summer. Previously published Annual reports can be found at the following…
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Figures for outflow of non-commissioned officers ranked Staff Sergeant or above can be found below. Army Trade Trained Regular Non-Commissioned Officer Outflow, Staff Sergeant to Warrant Officer 1Financial Year (FY)Numbers OutflowingOutflow Rate2022-231,25012.6%2023-241,14811.8%2024-251,09111.2% …
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 December 2025 to Question 98153 to the hon. Member for Lewes (James MacCleary).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-08/98153
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The current Tactical Ballistic Plate (TBP) project, which is currently in its assessment phase, will deliver hard armour plates in a range of different sizes, thus ensuring greater comfort and integration for all users across Defence. Multiple Human Factors Integration (HFI) trials have been…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) on 16 January 2026, to Question 104236.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-08/104236
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The Government is focused upon improving Armed Forces recruitment, modernising and refining our policies and processes to attract the best possible talent. We have delivered this through policies which have included a 35% pay increase for new recruits; one of the largest pay increases in the last…
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As part of a wider programme to enable a more flexible workforce we are examining our policies and regulations to make transition between all parts of the Armed Forces as seamless as possible. The first step in this is a measure in the Armed Forces Bill 2026 that will enable service people to…
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The Ministry of Defence is implementing one of the most significant reforms to welfare oversight in decades through the creation of an independent Armed Forces Commissioner, providing a direct, empowered advocate able to investigate issues from housing to behaviours. In addition, the Armed Forces…
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It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the library of The House.
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The Davies Group claims management contract requires Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to be reported quarterly. These reports are supplemented by regular fortnightly progress and performance meetings between Ministry of Defence officials and the Davies Group to discuss aspects of contract delivery…
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RAF Oakhanger is a Ministry of Defence owned satellite ground station, which is contractor managed. It monitors and controls the UK's constellation of military communication satellites. There are no Defence staff stationed at RAF Oakhanger.
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It is not possible to outline the average turnaround time for the resolution of Hearing Loss claims in each of the four nations of the United Kingdom. This information is not currently held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost as it would require extensive research across the…
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Statistics on the number of common law compensation claims and financial settlements including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss are published annually at the following link.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-compensation-claims-statistics The next report will be published this summer,…
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The Davies Group provide regular statistics and other information to support the management of Ministry of Defence (MOD) claims. Both the MOD and Davies Group have increased resources to manage the unprecedented high volume of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss claims.
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The oldest open Noise-Induced Hearing Loss claim dates back to 30 June 2016. This claim was left inactive by the claimant’s legal representative, until a new firm of solicitors reissued the claim on 8 May 2025.
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The Ministry of Defence remains vigilant to the risks associated with Service personnel engaging with extremist or extreme online political content and treats such matters with the utmost seriousness. Such behaviour is wholly incompatible with the values and standards of the Armed Forces.Defence…
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The Ministry of Defence continues to conduct tracing exercises 60 working days after the pension due date to establish the member's address and invite them to claim; we continue to explore additional mechanisms to identify individuals who qualify for an unclaimed deferred pension.
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As of the 6 February 2026, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary had 1,741 employees, who are under the scope of the dual regulatory requirements of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Defence Maritime Regulator.
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The Ministry of Defence applies the Maritime Labour Convention in accordance with its application in UK Legislation. Where a Disapplication, Exemption or Derogation exists in UK legislation, then Secretary of State for Defence’s Policy on Health and Safety places the obligation on the…
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Routine surveys and inspections of RFA vessels have been completed in accordance with statutory requirements and timeline. All corrective actions or deficiencies have been pursued by both the RFA and the appropriate regulators and certifying bodies. Deficiencies raised across all surveys are…
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) as an organisation have been audited, inspected or surveyed approximately 30 times since the Memorandum of Understanding was updated in November 2024. This is a combination of RFA ship specific surveys and RFA organisational safety systems audits, capturing the…
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This measure would only apply to those personnel leaving the Regulars or Volunteer Reserves after the Bill comes into force, unless they opt out. It also would not affect existing leavers unless they wish to opt in. Any former personnel recalled into Service would undergo routine medical checks to…
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The Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary was appointed following an external competition and approval from the Prime Minister.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will respond to the Public Accounts Committee report (HC 1229) in the usual way.
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Defence is committed to maintaining a dentally fit Armed Forces to ensure operational capability and force generation. The Defence Medical Services (DMS) deliver dental care for all our Armed Forces personnel, from routine checkups, hygiene appointments and general dental care, while also deploying…
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Pension forfeiture for public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, is governed by primary and secondary legislation, notably the Pensions Act 1995 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc.) Regulations 1997. Under this legislative…
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Discussions are ongoing to define and implement Non-Standard Occupational Group status for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Defence remains focused on delivering a resilient and sustainable workforce for the future and recognising the unique contribution of its seafarers to the defence of this nation.
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There are no plans to amend the Armed Forces Bill in the way proposed. There have been significant improvements to investigations, prosecutions and victim support in the Service Justice System since the Lyons Review and the House of Commons’ Defence Committee’s previous recommendation.…
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The Government greatly values the exceptional and longstanding contribution made by Gurkha soldiers to the United Kingdom. Since 2007, Gurkhas have received the same pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as the rest of the UK Armed Forces. For those who served prior to 2007, for the large…
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The Cabinet Office leads the Government's Home Defence Programme, in which Defence plays an integral role. The programme is enhancing the UK’s national security and resilience through bolstering civilian-military coordination and planning and enhancing public and private preparedness. In a…
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Pension forfeiture for public service pension schemes, including the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, is governed by primary and secondary legislation, notably the Pensions Act 1995 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Assignment, Forfeiture, Bankruptcy etc.) Regulations 1997. Under this legislative…
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The Department's Fraud, Bribery and Corruption training for all personnel includes advice on fraud in personal life. Personal fraud risks are also addressed through fraud prevention campaigns aimed at Serving personnel, and former military personnel through BFBS. The Department is also working in…
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The VALOUR programme will engage across a wide range of stakeholders who provide support services for veterans, including social enterprises. VALOUR Field Officers will work with these stakeholders to improve the coordination of veteran support. The programme will also work with existing…
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Late Entry (LE) officers are eligible to apply for the same appointments as Direct Entry (DE) officers, and since 2023 all officers have been considered together for roles under a single, merit-based system. There are no formal restrictions preventing LE officers from being appointed to particular…
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The Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary was appointed on 1 November 2025, following an external competition and approval from the Prime Minister.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will respond to the Public Accounts Committee report (HC 1229) in the usual way.
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The ability to opt-in to a reduced assignment length continues to be available to all Royal Fleet Auxiliary Seafarers. As of January 2026, 10% of permanent employees have chosen this schedule. The previous detail on the recruiting site suggesting this as the default crewing model has been removed.
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As part of the continued transformation of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s workforce framework in support of Defence operational needs, the Department continues to draw upon best practice across the maritime industry, proactively engaging with stakeholders to inform future policy.
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We are already working to redefine Terms and Conditions of service for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, including salaried obligations, is already underway. This work will inform a pay and reward strategy to enhance lived experience and optimise effective and efficient capability in line with the…
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The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) remains an integral part of the Royal Navy and its collective ability to deliver operational effect in conjunction with our allies around the world. The RFA continue to meet their operational commitments, and we are dedicated to resolving the current industrial…
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The Ministry of Defence is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reforms to strengthen and modernise the Service Justice System. As a result, investigations, prosecutions and victim support have all significantly improved in recent years. We want to build on the progress made and this is why…
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UK military operations are conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Military personnel are bound by the laws of England and Wales for their actions under the Armed Forces Act 2006. All decisions on whether to approve foreign nations’ use of military bases in the UK for…
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All Armed Forces personnel are supported by dedicated and comprehensive rehabilitation services. Allied health professionals play a crucial role in supporting the treatment and rehabilitation of Armed Forces personnel in the UK and on operations to ensure our Armed Forces are fit to fight and can…
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Armed Forces personnel in the UK routinely receive secondary care, including specialist hospital treatment, through the NHS, working with the Defence Medical Services (DMS) to ensure that specific defence requirements are met. The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine is the UK's primary military…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2026 to Question 103963 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty).Armed Forces Commissioner (docx, 15.7KB)
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The attached table shows the Intake and Outflow of Female UK Service personnel (Regulars and Future Reserves 2020), for financial years 2020-21 to 2024-25. 107892 - Intake and Outflow of Female UK Ser Per (xlsx, 25.2KB)
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The Ministry of Defence has not done any such an assessment. It is the personal responsibility of all former Regular Service or current Volunteer Reserve Personnel, including Government Ministers, to determine whether they are affected by the Armed Forces Bill 2026 Reserves measures. Any member of…
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Responsibility for military memorials is split between several organisations, depending on the type and location of the memorial. Across the globe, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries commemorating 1.7 million commonwealth casualties who died…
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There is currently no backlog for unclaimed deferred pensions.The Ministry of Defence continues to conduct tracing exercises 60 working days after the pension due date to establish the member's address and invite them to claim; we continue to explore additional mechanisms to identify individuals…
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Defence does not hold a specific central policy on individual membership of single-sex private members’ clubs. Participation with external organisations in a professional capacity is subject to formal approval through the Chain of Command.
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It is anticipated that any severance payments received, would be published in the Ministry of Defence annual report and accounts for 2025 to 2026.
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The Ministry of Defence does not routinely collate information on specific words contained within role descriptions; collating this information would come at disproportionate cost. The Department’s accounts are published annually and made public; there are no plans to provide a further…
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The Technical Cooperation Programme (TTCP) is a defence innovation network that has enabled cooperation in Defence and Security Science and Technology for nearly 70 years between five nations’ Defence organisations: UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The subject of this question dates…
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The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Home Office on the Government’s commitment to waive visa fees for non-UK veterans and their dependants. This work is ongoing, and the Department will update Parliament in the usual way once cross Government decisions have been…
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Whilst the financial aspects of the sponsorship of Premier League football on Sky Television are commercial in confidence, sponsorship of Premier League football by the Army is part of a wider Army Recruiting campaign. Other marketing events and activity are synchronised with matches to ensure they…
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The Ministry of Defence are pleased that volunteers from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines plan to continue to deliver the Combat Sports Initiative and Combat Sister Project in 2026, at locations across the UK. These initiatives are not Ministry of Defence led; they are independently delivered on a…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) on 16 January 2026, to Question 104233.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-08/104233
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I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer recently provided to Questions 105112 and 105113. The Scheme received 381 applications, of which 249 were approved. Since its launch, the Scheme has successfully fulfilled its intended purpose, having awarded more than £21 million and providing…
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We are committed to improving the performance of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) and a dedicated Pension Programme Manager has been appointed to oversee work to rectify the issues identified. 44 Agreed Management Actions with the GIAA have been completed since its findings on 31 March 2025.…
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While the exact number of individuals eligible for the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme is not known, the number of payments made under the Scheme between its launch on 16 October 2023 and closure on 15 October 2025 is shown below. 202302024237202512 Given the continued reduction in…
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Following its launch on 16 October 2023, 249 applications were approved with more than £21 million awarded under the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme. Over 70 per cent of applications were submitted in the first three months, while only 14 claims were submitted in 2025. Given the…
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As has been the case under successive administrations, the allocation of official Ministerial residences, including Admiralty House, is determined by the Prime Minister on the grounds of security or to enable Ministers to better perform their official duties.
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At the present time, there are no plans to include the Royal Marines in Tranche 1 of the Gap Year. However, Tranche 1 will help to understand the impact and measure success, informing the future shape of the scheme. The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme opening with Tranche 1 in March 2026…
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We are committed to improving recruitment and retention through a range of targets, initiatives and measures and we are making a positive impact. The figures in the latest reporting period highlight that for the first time since early 2021, Armed Forces intake is now greater than outflow. In the 12…
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Work is ongoing with the Home Office to deliver the manifesto commitment to scrap visa fees for non-UK veterans and their dependants including those from the Commonwealth, but it is not possible at this stage to provide an implementation date.
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The Armed Forces do not have separate divorce procedures applying solely to Service personnel. Any injury-related payments are valued and shared between the parties in accordance with the relevant scheme rules and general divorce law.
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The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter…
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The competition for round one development funding for VALOUR Recognised Centres is currently underway. Once VALOUR Recognised Centres are established, they will be expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Veterans’ Commissioners.
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The contribution the Cadet Forces make to our communities is significant and being a cadet provides immense value to young people through the numerous benefits that the ‘cadet experience’ offers. The Government is committed to expanding the Cadet Forces and we are very pleased that the…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 October 2025, to Question 84537.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-10-22/84537
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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is aware of the potential impact of Service related mobility on children with additional needs from Armed Forces families. December 2025 saw the publication of MOD commissioned research carried out by Oxford Brookes University entitled ‘Supporting ALL to…
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The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) will offer new opportunities to experience military service through a new scheme set to launch in early 2026. The lessons of the first cohort (Tranche 1) will inform future practices for the Scheme. The first participants will be…
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UK Regular Armed Forces intake is now greater than outflow at the Tri-Service level and strength has remained stable. We are pleased to be reversing the trend of decline, with more people joining our Armed Forces than leaving for the first time in four years. The evidential basis for this has come…
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The Armed Forces already provide several opportunities to support tertiary education both before service and while serving. These include bursaries, sponsored degree study, in-service degrees and Learning Credits to offset the cost of undergraduate and postgraduate study. These schemes ensure that…
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946
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I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946
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Mefloquine is recommended as an effective anti-malarial by international health agencies, including the World Health Organisation. Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the National Health Service both follow National Institute for Care and Excellence guidelines on the prescription and management of side…
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The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) is a response to the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter…
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Tribunal directions can be issued at several stages of the appeal. In all circumstances the directions are actioned by caseworkers. Tribunal directions typically include directed timeframes, where on occasion the caseworker would respectfully request from Tribunal Clerk, extensions to any…
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As part of a War Pension Tribunal outcome, written reasons for the decision are provided. The Ministry of Defence does not keep a separate record of whether any factual inconsistencies are identified.
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