Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Defence People and Veterans of 15 December 2020, Official Report, column 75WH, how many and what proportion of Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff affected by recent changes to contracts of employment have (a) remained in the EU and (b) launched grievances against those changes; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence has been in regular contact with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission regarding the changes to the contractual arrangements for 30 UK staff based in Belgium and France. The Commission have advised that 21 staff have elected to remain in Europe, seven will return to new positions in the UK, and two have chosen to retire. Six of these staff have raised grievances, which are being addressed internally by the Commission.