Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Defence Diplomacy Network funding will support potential defence deals for components and services, as well as platforms, in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency and across the country.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Integrated Global Defence Network is our overseas footprint of military and civil service personnel who represent UK Defence around the globe. The Network will seek to further the UK’s international agenda, including exploring growth opportunities.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department maintains records of deferred Armed Forces pensions that have not been claimed on reaching pension age.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
Yes it does. Should a pension remain unclaimed for 60 days attempts are made to trace an address through a financial tracing company; if the trace is successful, a claim form is issued.
The department relies on Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) scheme members to keep their contact details up to date after leaving service, and the onus remains on members to claim deferred benefits when they become due for payment.
The tracing campaign 'Service to Civvy - Are You Pension Ready?' is aimed at Service Personnel, families and veterans to highlight to those audience groups the importance of keeping their records up to date, notifying the AFPS Scheme administrators of a change of circumstances and applying for their pension at the right time. Details are at the following link:
https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/service-to-civvy-are-you-pension-ready/
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of improvements to service family accommodation on the wellbeing, retention, and satisfaction of armed forces personnel and their families.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence remains committed to improving the lived experience of Service personnel and their families, including through the Defence Housing Strategy announced in November 2025, the Single Living Accommodation and Overseas Estate Review launched in January 2026, and the provisions in the Armed Forces Bill to establish a new Defence Housing Service.
The most recent Continuous Attitude Survey showed satisfaction with housing is up as is morale.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of recognition and compensation of chronic pain as a distinct medical condition as part of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pension Scheme.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Department has assessed that both the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and the War Pension Scheme provide for pain and suffering as part of a holistic assessment of service-attributable injury or illness.
In most cases, chronic pain is not treated as a standalone condition. Under both Schemes, chronic pain is generally considered an expected effect of a primary injury and is included in the overall award. However, where there is a distinct and separately diagnosable chronic pain condition, such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, this may be considered on its own merits.
The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) is currently considering concerns that chronic pain may not always be adequately captured under the AFCS. IMEG is examining the evidence base and how the functional impact of chronic pain is reflected within existing compensation arrangements.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the procurement of the A400M Atlas Aircraft on (a) national security, (b) the number of skilled jobs in the defence sector in (i) Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency and (ii) England and (c) economic growth.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The A400M aircraft entered service in 2014, primarily to provide tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities. In addition to this remit, A400M also has a 24/7 national standby commitment and has supported the UK Border Force with maritime reconnaissance in the English Channel, and long range search and rescue.
A400M wing production has sustained approximately 270 skilled jobs at Airbus' Filton base and it is estimated that almost 900 jobs have been sustained in the supply chain across the UK. To date, A400M production has contributed £1.5 billion to the UK economy.