Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that reprisals against former or current members of the armed forces through the legal system for political reasons are not allowed.

The Government is determined to protect the Armed Forces against improper legal claims. That is why we asked the Solicitors Regulation Authority to investigate solicitor Phil Shiner, who was struck off earlier this year for dishonesty. In respect of Northern Ireland, the Defence Secretary is working closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to ensure that the approach taken to address Northern Ireland's past is fair, balanced, and proportionate and that veterans are fully supported throughout.