Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had distributed £2.2 million in payments, prioritising elderly applicants and those with serious health conditions to ensure timely support for those most in need. The first payments were issued within 15 weeks of the scheme going live, and while some complex cases require additional time, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to ensuring all eligible individuals receive the support they are entitled to.

The MOD is actively monitoring and assessing application data to evaluate the Scheme’s progress and continues to work with stakeholders, including local councils, the NHS, LGBT and military charities, and Veterans’ networks, to raise awareness and provide support. To date, £90,000 in grants has been allocated to charities, such as Fighting With Pride, to assist Veterans with their applications and ensure the scheme is accessible.

The MOD remains focused on addressing challenges, such as processing complex cases and improving outreach, and will continue to monitor the Scheme’s performance to ensure it meets its objectives of recognising and supporting those affected by the historic ban.