To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Veterans UK
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing hon. Members to contact Veterans UK by email to discuss individual personnel.

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

Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments. Parliamentarians have direct access to Ministers, and any information they require from the department should be provided by Ministers.

This is intended to ensure that only accurate and releasable information is provided and that Ministers can assure themselves of that before it is released.


Written Question
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
Tuesday 27th June 2023

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to support people that are unsuccessful in their claims to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

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

Under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme a claimant can ask the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to reconsider its decision. If the claimant remains dissatisfied with the reconsideration decision they can appeal to the independent Tribunal.

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) helps veterans with form completion for MOD administered schemes and provides bespoke advice and assistance following a holistic assessment of need which is tailored to each individual's specific circumstances. Where financial assistance is required by veterans the VWS can assist with benefits checks, completion of application forms and signposting to entitlements and support available from the wider public and voluntary sectors.


Written Question
Afghanistan: Refugees
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time was between application and approval for successful Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme applications in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by James Heappey

Not all ARAP applicants will receive an eligibility decision in the same timeframe. This could be due to the complexity of the case, the need to conduct checks with other Government Departments, or the length of time it takes an applicant to respond to follow-up queries. As such, it is not possible to provide the data requested as the timeframes can vary considerably.

I recognise the great concern all applicants to the scheme have for their safety and wellbeing. As such, considerable amounts of time, resources and personnel have been, and continue to be, deployed to ensure that applications are considered as quickly efficiently, accurately and fairly as possible.


Written Question
Veterans: Education and Training
Monday 15th November 2021

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

What progress his Department has made on supporting education and reskilling opportunities for former service personnel.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) promotes lifelong learning.

Eligible Service personnel and veterans can access three schemes which can help individuals pursue their personal and professional development through education, both during their Service and, for two of the schemes, up to ten years after discharge.

In 2019, the MOD introduced Holistic Transition support, building on the highly successful Career Transition Partnership, which has provided employment support and job finding services for the last 20 years.


Written Question
Veterans: Compensation
Thursday 28th October 2021

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of using Veterans UK medical advisors rather than independent medical experts in the veterans compensation process.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) delivers for those who make a claim. Mechanisms of accountability ensure that this is the case and include the Quinquennial Review to confirm AFCS remains fit for purpose, monthly review against Key Performance Indicators, and bi-monthly review in conjunction with the Office of Veterans Affairs. The Central Advisory Committee on Compensation also affords Armed Forces charities opportunity to discuss all aspects of compensation, including the efficiency of AFCS.

The AFCS uses independent medical experts through the Independent Medical Expert Group, an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. This provides assurance that AFCS policy and decision-making reflect contemporary medical understanding of causation and prognosis. Any apparent anomalies in AFCS tariffs are examined and recommendations made accordingly. Veterans UK medical advisers are independent from clinicians and have had a career in clinical medicine. They are trained in medico-legal determinations and AFCS legislation. They give case-specific advice based on the claimant’s service and in-line with prevailing medical understanding.


Written Question
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
Thursday 28th October 2021

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme process for veterans.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) delivers for those who make a claim. Mechanisms of accountability ensure that this is the case and include the Quinquennial Review to confirm AFCS remains fit for purpose, monthly review against Key Performance Indicators, and bi-monthly review in conjunction with the Office of Veterans Affairs. The Central Advisory Committee on Compensation also affords Armed Forces charities opportunity to discuss all aspects of compensation, including the efficiency of AFCS.

The AFCS uses independent medical experts through the Independent Medical Expert Group, an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. This provides assurance that AFCS policy and decision-making reflect contemporary medical understanding of causation and prognosis. Any apparent anomalies in AFCS tariffs are examined and recommendations made accordingly. Veterans UK medical advisers are independent from clinicians and have had a career in clinical medicine. They are trained in medico-legal determinations and AFCS legislation. They give case-specific advice based on the claimant’s service and in-line with prevailing medical understanding.


Written Question
Caribbean: Armed Forces
Wednesday 25th October 2017

Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with UK mobile telephone operators about waiving mobile roaming charges for military personnel deployed to the Caribbean following the recent hurricanes that have affected the region.

Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

No such discussions have taken place. A Deployed Welfare Package is usually put in place on operations to ensure Service personnel can stay in communications with those at home. Due to the short duration of this operation, in lieu of a Deployed Welfare Package, all of those deployed have been paid a Local Overseas Allowance. This contributes towards the necessary additional local cost of day-to-day living when Service personnel are required to serve overseas. In this deployment, this allowance was paid in addition to that given to Service personnel who were living under 'field conditions', where their food and accommodation charges are waived.