Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the debate on the NI Remedial Order on 21 January 2026 and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland’s recital of 800 legacy civil cases, how many of these are against the Ministry of Defence.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
A total of 123 claims directed against the Ministry of Defence and other public bodies will be unfrozen under the Remedial Order. The Department is currently named as a defendant in 966 claims, including those restarting following the Remedial Order. However, itis not the primary or sole defendant in all of these cases.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to inform veterans who served in Northern Ireland of the Victims Pension Scheme.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is advertised on https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/
The scheme is being promoted locally in Northern Ireland via the veterans’ support network and victims and survivors groups.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will initiate a judicial review against the findings of the Clonoe inquest.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence has carefully considered the findings of the Clonoe inquest. I can confirm that we have written to the Coroner outlining our intent to initiate judicial review proceedings.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness of the application of the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland and (b) adequacy of Armed Forces Covenant arrangements in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our election manifesto commitment to put the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law highlighted the need to strengthen the rights of the Armed Forces community and thus improve current and former service life on a broader scope. Work is currently underway to develop policy in a range of areas relevant to the Armed Forces community.
The Armed Forces Covenant applies across the whole of the UK including the Devolved Nations; its delivery is shaped by local and regional factors and jurisdictions. In Northern Ireland, government bodies and the charitable sector work together to provide practical support to the Armed Forces community, helping deliver the Covenant. Since 2015, Covenant delivery has been supported by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, an Arm’s Length Body of the Ministry of Defence and a charity. In 2023-24, the Trust awarded a total of £31.7 million to projects across the UK, including Northern Ireland, in support of the Armed Forces community. From 2022-23 to date, £3.26 million across 51 grants in total have been awarded to projects in Northern Ireland.
A Covenant Legal Duty impact survey aimed at organisations subject to the Duty was completed in 2024. This included engagement with the Devolved Administrations. The survey was aimed at the whole of UK. Greater detail on the survey can be found in the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2024, published in December 2024: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676049f6cfbf84c3b2bcfacc/Armed_Forces_Covenant_annual_report_summary_2024.pdf
We are making good progress in delivering the Covenant in Northern Ireland, where unique circumstances require a different approach to be taken from the rest of the UK. We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders in Northern Ireland to ensure that the Covenant remains effective.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of maximising the geo-strategic potential of Northern Ireland in the defence of the UK (a) in general and (b) in the context of its position relative to western approaches.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Northern Ireland plays an important role in defending the UK, particularly through its defence industry which continues to contribute to the support provided to Ukraine. The Strategic Defence Review, launched by the Prime Minister on 16 July, will determine the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time Royal Air Force service personnel (a) live and (b) work in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel stationed in Northern Ireland by Service as at 1 July 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 5 |
Army | 1,230 |
RAF | 70 |
The figures provided are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. Figures between 1 and 5 inclusive are rounded to 5 to prevent possible disclosure. Totals have been rounded separately, and so Totals may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel with a registered home address in Northern Ireland by Service as at 3 September 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 275 |
Army | 1,121 |
RAF | 237 |
This data is based on the Permanent Home Address in Northern Ireland recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA).
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time Royal Naval service personnel (a) live and (b) work in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel stationed in Northern Ireland by Service as at 1 July 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 5 |
Army | 1,230 |
RAF | 70 |
The figures provided are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. Figures between 1 and 5 inclusive are rounded to 5 to prevent possible disclosure. Totals have been rounded separately, and so Totals may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel with a registered home address in Northern Ireland by Service as at 3 September 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 275 |
Army | 1,121 |
RAF | 237 |
This data is based on the Permanent Home Address in Northern Ireland recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA).
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British Army service personnel (a) live and (b) work in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel stationed in Northern Ireland by Service as at 1 July 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 5 |
Army | 1,230 |
RAF | 70 |
The figures provided are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship.
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. Figures between 1 and 5 inclusive are rounded to 5 to prevent possible disclosure. Totals have been rounded separately, and so Totals may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.
The below table shows the number of UK Regular personnel with a registered home address in Northern Ireland by Service as at 3 September 2024.
Service | Total |
Royal Navy/Royal Marines | 275 |
Army | 1,121 |
RAF | 237 |
This data is based on the Permanent Home Address in Northern Ireland recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA).