Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason was Kosovo not mentioned as a contributory nation to Operation Interflex on a social media post made by his Department on 20 November 2024.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK's support for Ukraine is ironclad, and we are grateful for the contributions of Kosovo and 11 other partner nations to our programme of basic military training for Ukrainian recruits - Operation Interflex - which recently passed the milestone of 50,000 recruits trained since summer 2022.
Our other communications have referenced Kosovo as a contributor.
These include last week's announcement press release detailing the 50,000 recruits trained milestone and a similar social media post two days earlier on 18 November:
https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/1858573602762719382
I would be very happy to meet with the hon. Member to discuss this further.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Departments plans to implement all recommendations in the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published on 19 July 2023; what his planned timetable is for the implementation of recommendations; and how much compensation he plans to provide to affected people.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government acknowledges the historic policy prohibiting homosexuality in the Armed Forces was regrettable, wrong and completely unacceptable. The treatment of LGBT Serving personnel between 1967 and 2000 was wholly unacceptable and does not reflect today’s Armed Forces.
All 49 recommendations made in Lord Etherton’s report have been accepted and to date, 32 of the 49 recommendations have already been implemented, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to supporting our veterans and the LGBT+ community. Full details about these recommendations and the non-financial restorative measures already available can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lgbt-veterans-apply-for-restorative-measures
Lord Etherton’s report demonstrated the broad range of ways that personnel were impacted by the Ban. The financial redress scheme has been designed with this in mind, intending to provide a sense of closure to all those affected. Defence has worked with experts across Government to design an appropriate scheme where applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, enabling appropriate distribution of the available funds. Defence cannot confirm the estimated number of applicants, nor the average payment amounts that can be expected.
The Government will continue to finalise the details of the scheme and is committed to providing an update as soon as possible. Further updates on the development of the financial redress scheme will be added to the LGBT Veterans: Support and next steps GOV.UK page: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps
I hope this helps explain Defence’s position and reassures you that we are committed to welcoming back LGBT veterans into the Armed Forces community, where they have always belonged.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many gas masks the UK (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide to Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Since 2022 the Ministry of Defence has provided 8,500 Respirators to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The MOD continues to assess and monitor the threat environment in Ukraine, including Russia's use of chemicals as a method of warfare and works closely with our international partners to coordinate counter-CBRN support and assistance.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which assessment methods his Department's hearing loss compensation scheme uses; and whether he plans to update them.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
There is no individual compensation scheme for hearing loss. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) compensates for any injury (including Noise-Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss), illness or death which was caused by or worsened by service on or after 6 April 2005. The older War Pension Scheme (WPS) compensates for any injury, illness or death which was caused by or aggravated by service before 6 April 2005.
Medical evidence is carefully considered, and hearing loss is assessed initially for attributability to service, based on the burden of proof associated with the scheme rules set by Parliament.
In making a determination on a claim, decision makers take into consideration a wide variety of evidence. In a hearing loss claim this is likely to include but is not limited to the service medical records, audiograms, hospital case notes and GP records (if they have left service). The evidence is carefully considered in accordance with the scheme rules.
If injury is found to be attributable to service, under the AFCS, hearing loss is assessed against Tariff Table 7 (senses), which details the type and level of hearing loss required to meet the criteria for the specific descriptors. Under the WPS, a percentage assessment is derived based on audiometric values.
There has recently been a review of the AFCS in the form of the quinquennial review (QQR). The purpose of which is to ensure AFCS remains fit for purpose, providing appropriate recognition and financial support to those members of the Armed Forces who are injured, become ill or die as a result of service, I announced the publication of the Government response to the AFCS Quinquennial Review on 21 March 2024.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to re-join the EUFOR peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the event that the mandate for that force is extended in November 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
Operation EUFOR Althea remains vital to Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) peace and security and the UK will support its mandate renewal in the UN Security Council in November. We continue to support security and stability in BiH through our contributions to NATO HQ in Sarajevo and through an extensive programme of bilateral support to the BiH Armed Forces.
We will keep the UK position on re-joining EUFOR under review - this would require approval from all EU member states.