Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog of claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving performance and reducing delays in processing claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). To achieve this, the Department has introduced several targeted measures:

Flexible resource management: Teams are now able to flex resources, and staff are being trained to be multi-skilled, maximising efficiency and building greater resilience.

Accelerated processing: Overtime and weekend working have been implemented to speed up the reduction of outstanding claims.

Increased capacity: Additional administrative and caseworker staff have been recruited to further boost processing capability.

At every stage of the AFCS process, claims from the terminally ill are given priority. In addition, the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) remains available to all veterans, Service personnel, and their families, offering dedicated assistance and support.