Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2017 to Question 116535, on Armed Forces: Compensation, for what reasons his Department cannot delay payment in the case of an uncompleted appeal.

Financial payments arising from the determination of an Army Board Appeal are payable from the point at which the Appeal Body's decision is published, concluding the Service Complaint's process. If an individual is unhappy with the determination they can refer it to the Service Complaints Ombudsman but this would not delay payment.

A delay to payment could occur where for example, the Department is waiting for the recipients account details or the amount has been queried by the complainant. Once any outstanding matters have been resolved in relation to those elements the Department is responsible for, the payment will be made without delay.