Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all veterans impacted by the historic ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces are proactively informed of the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme, particularly those who may not be in contact with veteran support networks or digital communication channels.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will close at 23:59 on 12 December 2026, following a 24‑month application window, and there are no plans to extend the deadline. The scheme has been designed to minimise barriers to application. Applicants are not required to provide Service records and may apply on the basis of their testimony alone, ensuring that difficulties in accessing historical documentation do not prevent individuals from applying. All applications submitted before the closing date will continue to be processed in line with the scheme rules.

The Government is taking a proactive approach to ensure that all those affected by the historic ban are made aware of the scheme, including those who may not be engaged with established veterans’ networks or digital channels. Defence is working with a wide range of partners, including the Royal British Legion, Fighting with Pride, local authorities, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, and other charities, supported by external communications specialists. A stakeholder communications pack has also been issued to partners to help extend the reach of messaging, and information is available on GOV.UK, alongside dedicated support for applicants.

A total of 1,839 individual payment cases have been progressed to a decision. Of the cases that have been appealed, 58 appeal cases have met the grounds for appeal, as defined in the scheme rules, and have therefore been reviewed by the Independent Appeal Board. As of 22 June 2026, including outcomes reached by the Appeals Board, 168 cases have not met the eligibility criteria set out in the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme rules.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications to the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme have been unsuccessful; and how many have been referred to the Appeal Board.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will close at 23:59 on 12 December 2026, following a 24‑month application window, and there are no plans to extend the deadline. The scheme has been designed to minimise barriers to application. Applicants are not required to provide Service records and may apply on the basis of their testimony alone, ensuring that difficulties in accessing historical documentation do not prevent individuals from applying. All applications submitted before the closing date will continue to be processed in line with the scheme rules.

The Government is taking a proactive approach to ensure that all those affected by the historic ban are made aware of the scheme, including those who may not be engaged with established veterans’ networks or digital channels. Defence is working with a wide range of partners, including the Royal British Legion, Fighting with Pride, local authorities, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, and other charities, supported by external communications specialists. A stakeholder communications pack has also been issued to partners to help extend the reach of messaging, and information is available on GOV.UK, alongside dedicated support for applicants.

A total of 1,839 individual payment cases have been progressed to a decision. Of the cases that have been appealed, 58 appeal cases have met the grounds for appeal, as defined in the scheme rules, and have therefore been reviewed by the Independent Appeal Board. As of 22 June 2026, including outcomes reached by the Appeals Board, 168 cases have not met the eligibility criteria set out in the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme rules.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for the application deadline for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme to exclude eligible claimants, and whether they intend to extend it to ensure that those facing administrative barriers or difficulties in retrieving historical service records are not denied access to compensation.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme will close at 23:59 on 12 December 2026, following a 24‑month application window, and there are no plans to extend the deadline. The scheme has been designed to minimise barriers to application. Applicants are not required to provide Service records and may apply on the basis of their testimony alone, ensuring that difficulties in accessing historical documentation do not prevent individuals from applying. All applications submitted before the closing date will continue to be processed in line with the scheme rules.

The Government is taking a proactive approach to ensure that all those affected by the historic ban are made aware of the scheme, including those who may not be engaged with established veterans’ networks or digital channels. Defence is working with a wide range of partners, including the Royal British Legion, Fighting with Pride, local authorities, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, and other charities, supported by external communications specialists. A stakeholder communications pack has also been issued to partners to help extend the reach of messaging, and information is available on GOV.UK, alongside dedicated support for applicants.

A total of 1,839 individual payment cases have been progressed to a decision. Of the cases that have been appealed, 58 appeal cases have met the grounds for appeal, as defined in the scheme rules, and have therefore been reviewed by the Independent Appeal Board. As of 22 June 2026, including outcomes reached by the Appeals Board, 168 cases have not met the eligibility criteria set out in the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme rules.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the acceptance by the UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Alastair Long, of the Order of Bahrain (First Class) Medal conferred by the King of Bahrain on 21 June is consistent with paragraphs 6 and 6.1 of the Rules governing the acceptance and wearing of foreign, Commonwealth, Realm and International Orders, Honours, decorations and medals by nationals of the United Kingdom and her Overseas Territories.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Foreign governments are regularly reminded of the UK Rules on the Acceptance of Foreign Awards. As set out in the previous Government's answer to the Noble Lord, (HL1188, 29 December 2023), where an award is conferred without formal permission having been sought, a Head of Mission will not be given permission to wear the award, but is allowed to retain it.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Kingdom of Bahrain sought permission from the Honours Secretariat before the King of Bahrain conferred an award on the UK Ambassador to Bahrain, Alastair Long, on 21 June; if so, when the request was received; and if not, what discussions they have had or plan to have with the government of Bahrain regarding compliance with paragraphs 16 and 16.1 of the Rules governing the acceptance and wearing of foreign, Commonwealth, Realm and International Orders, Honours, decorations and medals by nationals of the United Kingdom and her Overseas Territories.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Foreign governments are regularly reminded of the UK Rules on the Acceptance of Foreign Awards. As set out in the previous Government's answer to the Noble Lord, (HL1188, 29 December 2023), where an award is conferred without formal permission having been sought, a Head of Mission will not be given permission to wear the award, but is allowed to retain it.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what formal, mandatory safeguard mechanisms exist within the Personal Independence Payment Transform Decision Making pilot to require a non-clinical departmental case manager to refer a case back to a healthcare professional for clinical advice before selecting a lower-scoring descriptor than the raw evidence implies for a claimant with a learning disability.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Transformed decision making aims to rebalance the way Personal Independence Payment entitlement decisions are made by refocusing Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) on providing clear, factual evidence, while reinforcing the role of DWP Case Managers to make the final decision using all available evidence.

Healthcare Professionals will focus on assessing and recording clear, factual evidence about the functional impacts of a customer’s health condition or disability. They will no longer provide views on descriptor selection or award length.

The transformed decision making (TDM) approach does not represent a fundamental change to accountability for decisions. PIP case managers have always made the decision about a customer’s entitlement to PIP. Healthcare Professionals continue to provide clinical input and carry out functional assessments. They have a responsibility to safeguard customers, are trained to level 3 in both adult and child safeguarding, and will continue this approach in TDM.

Case Managers have the ability to seek further advice and clarification from Healthcare Professionals, if needed, before making a final decision.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 June (HL696), whether the access of Palantir contractors to identifiable patient data was always part of the operational arrangements; and why the National Data Guardian was left unaware of this arrangement until it was exposed by external pressure.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Data Guardian (NDG) highlighted that the published Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for the National Data Integration Tenant (NDIT) was not fully reflective of current access arrangements, including limited administrative access by supplier staff.

Access by supplier staff has been part of the operational model for the NHS Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) where necessary to support, maintain and assure the system. This access is strictly controlled, limited, and subject to contractual, technical and organisational safeguards.

The DPIA did include information on supplier data processing obligations and considered the risks associated with access to data. However, it was not sufficiently explicit about the nature and extent of limited administrative access by supplier staff. NHS England recognised this and has taken steps to improve transparency in how these arrangements are described. NHS England has also set out in its public communications that suppliers act only under the instructions of National Health Service organisations.

Whilst there is no statutory requirement for NHS England to notify the NDG of specific access arrangements to NDIT, NHS England engages regularly with the NDG through established governance routes as part of routine oversight of the NHS FDP Programme. This matter was discussed at the Data Transformation Check and Challenge Group; the NDG subsequently wrote to NHS England and has received an update in response. NHS England has also published an updated Privacy Notice on the NHS website in an online-only format.

NHS England acts as the data controller for the NHS FDP at the national level, including NDIT. NHS organisations using the platform act as data controllers for their own data and use of the system. Access to data is strictly controlled; any access by external contractors is limited, role-based and time-bound, requires appropriate security clearance and senior approval, and is fully logged and auditable. Data remains under the control of NHS organisations, and suppliers act only under the instruction of those organisations.

NHS England and the Department will continue to engage with the NDG through established governance routes on this matter.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many NHS pensioners flagged for manual reconciliation due to their lifetime allowance are experiencing delays in receiving their annual inflation increases; what is the average wait time for those cases to be resolved; and what is the longest recorded wait time for an affected individual to receive their statutory increase.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), which administers the NHS Pension Scheme on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has confirmed that as of 22 June 2026, there are 1,715 open inflation-related pension increase cases waiting for manual calculation and payment. These are known as ‘second bite’ payments and the average wait time for a case is 155 days, with the shortest wait time being one day and the longest wait time being 1,338 days.

The vast majority of second bites are paid automatically soon after the April pensions increase effective date by the NHSBSA, with 83,074 pensioners receiving their second bite payments over the last four years, April 2023 to April 2026. Manual intervention is necessary for the small number of pensioners at risk of exceeding the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lump sum allowance due to their second bite payment. Members are requested to complete a declaration form, to enable the NHSBSA to determine if there is tax to be deducted and paid to HMRC when the second bite is paid so that the member receives the amount due net of tax. Delays by members in returning this form to the NHSBSA extend the time that a case remains open.

The NHSBSA, which administers the NHS Pension Scheme for almost four million members, recognises the importance of timely second bite payments and that delays are frustrating for members. The NHSBSA is taking a range of steps to process and pay second bite payments as quickly as possible after the declaration form is returned and to regularly monitor and remind members whose form remains outstanding.

The Department is working with the NHSBSA to oversee their development of a recovery plan that expediates the processing and payment of the delayed second bite payments.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the new code of practice under the Mental Health Act 2025; and which organisations advocating for people with learning disabilities have been consulted during its drafting.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has prioritised introducing these reforms through the Mental Health Act 2025, and is committed to implementing this legislation so that people with serious mental illness and people with a learning disability and autistic people see real improvements in their care and outcomes as soon as possible.

We are working to develop the revised Code of Practice to enable the commencement of the first major set of reforms, phase 1, in 2028/29. We will be engaging extensively on this and particularly we are keen to ensure that we reflect the views of clinicians and other professionals, as well as those with lived experience, their families and carers, and other organisations, including organisations advocating for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

To support this work, we are running an open tender process for an external organisation to lead engagement with people with lived experience, including people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their families and carers to ensure their perspectives are informing the development of the updated statutory guidance. As part of our governance structures to support drafting of the Code of Practice, we have established an Expert Reference Group which includes representatives from Mencap and the National Autistic Society.

We intend to go to public consultation on the revised Code of Practice in the first half of 2027. We will then need to train the workforce on the reforms and the new Code of Practice, ahead of the code being laid before Parliament. We intend for the new code to come into force in parallel with phase 1 reforms.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the Gulf Strategy Fund was allocated to Bahraini oversight and security institutions in the financial year 2025–26; and what consideration they have given to making future funding conditional on a transparent and independent investigation into the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

As I have said to the Noble Lord in previous answers, we are aware of the cases referenced in these questions. The UK maintains a constructive and longstanding relationship with Bahrain, enabling frank discussion on a range of issues including human rights. We recognise the important role of the Special Investigation Unit within Bahrain's oversight framework and note that an officer has been sentenced in relation to the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) programme for the financial year 2025/26 supported a wide range of UK strategic objectives in Bahrain. This included support to security institutions in progressing community justice reforms and exploring avenues of cooperation to counter money laundering and terrorist-financing. All GSF programming is subject to rigorous assessments to ensure it meets with human rights obligations and our values.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the British Embassy in Manama has made to the Bahraini authorities regarding the charges against the 41 Shia clerics arrested in May; and on what dates these representations took place.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

As I have said to the Noble Lord in previous answers, we are aware of the cases referenced in these questions. The UK maintains a constructive and longstanding relationship with Bahrain, enabling frank discussion on a range of issues including human rights. We recognise the important role of the Special Investigation Unit within Bahrain's oversight framework and note that an officer has been sentenced in relation to the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) programme for the financial year 2025/26 supported a wide range of UK strategic objectives in Bahrain. This included support to security institutions in progressing community justice reforms and exploring avenues of cooperation to counter money laundering and terrorist-financing. All GSF programming is subject to rigorous assessments to ensure it meets with human rights obligations and our values.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Bahrain’s Special Investigation Unit is sufficiently independent to conduct an impartial investigation into the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

As I have said to the Noble Lord in previous answers, we are aware of the cases referenced in these questions. The UK maintains a constructive and longstanding relationship with Bahrain, enabling frank discussion on a range of issues including human rights. We recognise the important role of the Special Investigation Unit within Bahrain's oversight framework and note that an officer has been sentenced in relation to the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) programme for the financial year 2025/26 supported a wide range of UK strategic objectives in Bahrain. This included support to security institutions in progressing community justice reforms and exploring avenues of cooperation to counter money laundering and terrorist-financing. All GSF programming is subject to rigorous assessments to ensure it meets with human rights obligations and our values.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports by Human Rights Watch that the revocation of citizenship of 69 individuals on 27 April by the Bahraini authorities has rendered at least 46 of them stateless, including children; and what assessment they have made of Bahrain's compliance with Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

As I have said to the Noble Lord in previous answers, we are aware of the cases referenced in these questions. The UK maintains a constructive and longstanding relationship with Bahrain, enabling frank discussion on a range of issues including human rights. We recognise the important role of the Special Investigation Unit within Bahrain's oversight framework and note that an officer has been sentenced in relation to the death of Sayed Mohammed al-Mousawi.

The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) programme for the financial year 2025/26 supported a wide range of UK strategic objectives in Bahrain. This included support to security institutions in progressing community justice reforms and exploring avenues of cooperation to counter money laundering and terrorist-financing. All GSF programming is subject to rigorous assessments to ensure it meets with human rights obligations and our values.