Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces Annual Report 2024: MOD Response

Al Carns Excerpts

Monday 1st September 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)]

I am pleased to place in the Library of the House today the MOD’s formal response to the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces annual report for 2024 on the fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of the service complaints system.

The ombudsman’s report assessed the service complaints system and the work of her office in 2024. The response sets out MOD’s comments to the report and our view on the two new recommendations she has made.

The MOD values the strong independent oversight that the ombudsman brings to the service complaints system.

Part of the improvements we intend to make will be the establishment of an Armed Forces Commissioner in 2026, with greater and more far-reaching powers than currently possessed by the ombudsman.

Additionally, the Ministry of Defence has committed to the creation of a new tri-service complaints team to take the most serious complaints alleging bullying, harassment and discrimination out of the chain of command for the first time.

We will continue to build upon this, as part of our Government commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve.

Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2025-09-01/HCWS891/

[HCWS891]