Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the state of repair of the (a) Deir El Balah War Cemetery and (b) Gaza War Cemetery.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) updates their website on the condition of sites in challenging locations around the world. The Commission reports that as a result of the recent conflict in Gaza, both the Gaza War Cemetery and the Deir El Balah War Cemetery have suffered extensive damage including to approximately 10% of the headstones.
A more detailed assessment cannot be carried out until the current situation subsides. The CWGC will, however, restore those sites to a befitting standard as and when circumstances allow. Until then, the locally employed maintenance team remain temporarily relocated outside Gaza.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of SDLT higher rates on armed forces recruitment and retention for personnel required to relocate frequently.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In recognition of an inherently mobile career, frequently remote bases and terms of service, Regular Service and Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel are provided with high quality subsidised accommodation. The accommodation offered will be within an appropriate distance of an individual’s duty unit and personnel may be eligible for allowances to support the cost of moving.
The purchase of privately owned property and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax is considered a private life matter. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence has conducted no assessment of the kind described and no discussions have taken place with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the matter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of introducing higher-rate Stamp Duty Land Tax relief for serving personnel who maintain a second home in relation to service need.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
In recognition of an inherently mobile career, frequently remote bases and terms of service, Regular Service and Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel are provided with high quality subsidised accommodation. The accommodation offered will be within an appropriate distance of an individual’s duty unit and personnel may be eligible for allowances to support the cost of moving.
The purchase of privately owned property and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax is considered a private life matter. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence has conducted no assessment of the kind described and no discussions have taken place with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the matter.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on UK's participation in the SAFE defence fund; and when he expects a decision to be made on the conditions under which UK defence firms can take part in that fund.
Answered by Maria Eagle
As part of our recent Security and Defence partnership with the EU, we have agreed to explore closer co-operation and joint investment in our defence industrial base. In the first instance, the partnership creates a basis for broad consultations on defence readiness and defence industry and also means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE.
We have set an ambition with the EU to swiftly explore possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation under the SAFE mechanism. We will work closely with our European partners to take this, and discussion on any further areas for defence industrial cooperation, forward, in accordance with the EU’s necessary processes.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the (a) European Commission and (b) European Defence Agency on UK-EU defence industrial cooperation.
Answered by Maria Eagle
As part of our recent Security and Defence partnership with the EU, we have agreed to explore closer co-operation and joint investment in our defence industrial base. In the first instance, the partnership creates a basis for broad consultations on defence readiness and defence industry and also means the UK now meets the criteria for discussing participation in common procurement under SAFE.
We have set an ambition with the EU to swiftly explore possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation under the SAFE mechanism. We will work closely with our European partners to take this, and discussion on any further areas for defence industrial cooperation, forward, in accordance with the EU’s necessary processes.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with NATO counterparts on the potential impact of changes to US strategic priorities on Euro-Atlantic security; and what steps he is taking with his counterparts in European NATO countries to increase joint defence (a) planning and (b) capabilities.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Last week’s NATO Summit saw Allies reaffirm their ironclad commitment to collective defence and Euro-Atlantic Security. At the Summit, Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defence and security, composed of 3.5% core defence spending and 1.5% security and resilience spending, by 2035. This historic commitment on defence investment, underpinned by the recent agreement of ambitious new Capability Targets, demonstrates the collective and firm commitment of Allies to building and equipping a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to meet the threats we face.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he had at the NATO Summit on 24 and 25 June 2025 on (a) strengthening Europe's ability to take independent strategic decisions and (b) developing corresponding military capabilities in response to (i) Russia and (ii) global instability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Last week’s NATO Summit saw Allies reaffirm their ironclad commitment to collective defence and Euro-Atlantic Security. At the Summit, Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defence and security, composed of 3.5% core defence spending and 1.5% security and resilience spending, by 2035. This historic commitment on defence investment, underpinned by the recent agreement of ambitious new Capability Targets, demonstrates the collective and firm commitment of Allies to building and equipping a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO to meet the threats we face.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the £75 million budget allocated for financial reparations to LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.
The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.
We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.
The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.
We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.
The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.
This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will outline a planned timeline for issuing financial reparations to all eligible LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.
The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.
We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.
The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.
We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.
The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.
This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what feedback he has received from LGBT veterans’ organisations on the implementation of the financial reparations scheme for LGBT veterans affected by the historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) continues to make progress with applications, with processing capacity expected to increase in the coming months. As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments of £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live. We are now processing applications based on date received.
The Independent Panel, responsible for reviewing and making fair and equitable determinations on applications, convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating a commitment to delivering the Scheme at pace. Further sittings have taken place since then, with several more sittings planned over the coming months.
We are reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently. While processing times may vary depending on the complexity of individual cases, we aim to provide regular updates on progress and remain committed to delivering this important recognition fairly, responsibly, and as swiftly as possible.
The eligibility criteria for the FRS can be found within the Scheme Rules, published on Gov.UK. The Scheme is open to individuals who served in the UK Armed Forces and were dismissed or discharged due to their sexual orientation, or who experienced other forms of harm or disadvantage as a result of the historic Ban. Applicants must provide supporting evidence for assessment against the Rules.
We recognise the importance of timeliness in delivering the FRS. While we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage, we are committed to processing applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Evidence gathering remains the most complex and time-consuming part of the process, requiring information to be retrieved from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted thoroughly to ensure fair and accurate outcomes for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.
The design was informed by Fighting with Pride to ensure that the ‘most hurt’ were recognised appropriately and that timely payments were able to be made where evidence is most readily available. We continue to routinely engage with Fighting With Pride to ensure the voices of LGBT veterans are heard throughout the implementation of the Scheme and we take on their constructive feedback.
This Government listened to the concerns of veterans and increased the overall budget by 50% to up to £75 million. The Scheme’s two-payment design ensures that a broad range of experiences can be recognised and that payments are proportionate to the impact of the Ban. The Ministry of Defence has assessed the £75 million budget as sufficient to meet the anticipated demand based on current estimates of eligible applicants.