LGBT Veterans Independent Review

Lord Hayward Excerpts

Monday 23rd February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

We all associate with the remarks my noble friend just made with respect to the shameful way in which people were treated between 1967 and 2001. On the timeliness of the financial recognition scheme and the direct payments, the Government are working hard to ensure that we get to those who are the most seriously ill and the most elderly first so that they get the recognition that they deserve. On the impact part of the financial recognition scheme, the Government are going to increase the number of panels from two to three—I notice the noble Lord, Lord Paddick, in his place—which will allow three meetings of those panels each week. We are also appointing an additional chair. We think those measures, reaching out to local councils, reaching out to veterans’ charities and increasing the numbers of panels should speed up the process to ensure that we get to those veterans who need that support.

[Lord Hayward (Con)]

My Lords, I have enormous respect for the Minister and what he has been doing on this scheme, but there is a sense among the former service men and women that the rules are being applied far too narrowly, with no flexibility whatever. That was not the intention of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Etherton, when he drew up the scheme. Could the Minister please look at this to ensure that there is a degree of flexibility in the operation of the scheme, as was intended, and that the rules are not applied precisely as written and in no other circumstances?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes an important point. The fundamental principle of the scheme that is operating is to ensure that everybody who was affected by the ban between 1967 and 2001 receives the recognition that they deserve. For some, that will be under the financial recognition scheme, whichever part of that it may be, but part of this is about the restoration of rank, berets and those sorts of things. It is not the Government’s intention to exclude anyone who is eligible, and we will ensure that as much as we can. I heard what the noble Lord said, and we will always look at that, but we need to make sure that we get to those people who are covered by the scheme.