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Written Question
Defence Business Services
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason does Defence Business Services not publish its annual plan.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Defence Business Services is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), not an arm's length body (ALB). Its annual business plan is approved by the MOD Chief Operating Officer and, in common with many other annual business plans written by other parts of the Department, is for internal use.


Written Question
Veterans UK: Legal Profession
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) lawyers and (b) paralegals are employed by Veterans UK as of 4 March 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Veterans UK is the public facing name given to the administration and payment by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) of Armed Forces Pensions and the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes, and Veterans Welfare Service. It does not exist as an executive agency or standalone entity and consequently does not employ any lawyers or paralegals.

Legal advice and representation on Veterans related matters is provide by the MOD Legal Advisors and the Government Legal Department and I refer to the answer I gave to Question 1803, Tabled on 14 November 2023.

The MOD Legal Advisors' lawyers - as Government Legal Department employees - do not distinctly record time involved on veteran-related matters and, therefore, the MOD cannot specify how much work was undertaken.


Written Question
Defence Business Services: Serco
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish any (a) performance reports, (b) business plans, (c) annual reviews and (d) other documents relating to the (i) performance of and (ii) relationship between Defence Business Services and Serco in the years between 2011 and 2016.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

There are no plans to publish material relating to the performance of Defence Business Services or the commercial relationship with SERCO during the period 2011-2016.


Written Question
Army: Commonwealth
Friday 26th January 2024

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the roles Commonwealth soldiers are eligible to apply for while serving in the British Army.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Commonwealth citizens are eligible to apply to join the UK Armed Forces. Like their British and Irish counterparts, they must meet the required eligibility criteria including age, educational, fitness and medical, as well as UK residency for security vetting purposes which varies depending on rank and role. In addition, since November 2018 there has been an annual limit of up to 1,350 Commonwealth citizens who can be recruited each year by the Armed Forces. The Army also has a 15% limit on the number of Commonwealth citizens serving in each cap badge. These requirements can limit the number of roles available at a particular time.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Monday 8th January 2024

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of trends in the level of armed forces recruitment since 2020.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Armed Forces continue to meet all their current commitments, keeping the country and its interests safe. The Government remain committed to ensuring that this country has the world class Armed Forces that it needs and deserves.

Defence is firmly focused on responding to the current recruitment challenges faced across the western world, with a range of measures now, anticipating the successor Armed Forces Recruitment Programme.


Written Question
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: Tax Allowances
Monday 11th December 2023

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of granting tax-free status to the Survivors' Guaranteed Income Payment.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Department has no current plans to discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer making the Survivors’ Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP) tax free. The SGIP is paid to dependents who may have other sources of income and therefore it is taken into account for tax purposes.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Health Services
Friday 1st December 2023

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the (a) First Sea Lord, (b) Chief of the General Staff and (c) Chief of the Air Staff on tackling gaps in transition services for people who are medically discharged from the armed forces.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides post-transition support services beyond six months for those medically discharged from the Armed Forces. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) provides resettlement and career transition services to all Regular Armed Forces Service leavers as part of their resettlement process, helping to make the transition from military to civilian life as smooth and successful as possible. The Core Resettlement Programme is afforded to all medically discharged Service leavers irrespective of time served.

A bespoke service called CTP Assist is provided for the most vulnerable leavers, and delivers an individualised, needs-based service to those Service personnel who face the greatest barriers to employment because of their medical condition. This comprehensive employment support is made available to all those subject to medical discharge to maximise their successful transition to civilian life. Employment support is available through the CTP two years prior to discharge and for two years afterwards.

Welfare support from the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is also available to all Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their families via the Defence Transition Referral Protocol. All those who are medically discharged are contacted by VWS, on behalf of MOD, to provide contact details should they experience need after discharge and want to re-engage with VWS at a subsequent point in time. VWS supports service leavers, veterans, and their families by providing ongoing support, guidance and information with issues that will endure beyond discharge. VWS clients are supported according to their needs and preferences, with support remaining in place for as long as required.

As the Minister responsible for Defence People and Families, I regularly meet with The First Sea Lord, Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff to discuss topics that fall within my portfolio and tackle prevalent issues.


Written Question
Armed Forces: Health Services
Friday 1st December 2023

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

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 extending post-service transition support services for people medically discharged from the armed forces from six months to two years.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides post-transition support services beyond six months for those medically discharged from the Armed Forces. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) provides resettlement and career transition services to all Regular Armed Forces Service leavers as part of their resettlement process, helping to make the transition from military to civilian life as smooth and successful as possible. The Core Resettlement Programme is afforded to all medically discharged Service leavers irrespective of time served.

A bespoke service called CTP Assist is provided for the most vulnerable leavers, and delivers an individualised, needs-based service to those Service personnel who face the greatest barriers to employment because of their medical condition. This comprehensive employment support is made available to all those subject to medical discharge to maximise their successful transition to civilian life. Employment support is available through the CTP two years prior to discharge and for two years afterwards.

Welfare support from the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is also available to all Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their families via the Defence Transition Referral Protocol. All those who are medically discharged are contacted by VWS, on behalf of MOD, to provide contact details should they experience need after discharge and want to re-engage with VWS at a subsequent point in time. VWS supports service leavers, veterans, and their families by providing ongoing support, guidance and information with issues that will endure beyond discharge. VWS clients are supported according to their needs and preferences, with support remaining in place for as long as required.

As the Minister responsible for Defence People and Families, I regularly meet with The First Sea Lord, Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff to discuss topics that fall within my portfolio and tackle prevalent issues.


Written Question
Veterans: Health Services
Friday 1st December 2023

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on implementation of Project Cortisone; and when he plans that it will be fully operational.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Programme CORTISONE has now provided the ability to access archived healthcare records and users are able to interrogate operational healthcare data in a faster, more accurate and timely manner. New digital triage and remote video consultation capabilities have been prioritised for delivery in addition to e-rostering and caseload management systems by the end of 2025.

The current estimate for the Full Operating Capability is December 2027.


Written Question
Mental Health Services: Veterans
Thursday 30th November 2023

Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had discussions with the devolved administrations on extending the remit of Op Courage outside England.

Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)

Health is devolved across the four nations of the United Kingdom and the services available therefore may differ across each part of the UK. The Government has not had any discussions with devolved administrations on the potential introduction of Op COURAGE outside England.