Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many former armed forces personnel discharged because of their sexuality has his Department written to offering to return their medals.

It is deeply regrettable that, because of their sexuality, some members of the Armed Forces were, in the past, treated in a way that would not be acceptable today. Following a policy announcement on the return of medals on 16 February 2021, the Ministry of Defence has received five applications from former Armed Forces personnel who were discharged for reasons related to their sexuality, and who forfeited their medals as a result. A further application was received from a veteran who had voluntarily surrendered their medals having been dismissed in such circumstances. One of the veterans who forfeited their medals has had them restored, and the veteran who had voluntarily handed their medals in has been provided with replacements. Four cases remain under active review and we are in contact with the applicants about the progress of their case.