The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard)
I am pleased to announce to the House that the UK is now the first NATO nation to allow people living with HIV to serve and fully deploy in all roles—supporting the UK Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and our goal of ending new HIV cases by 2030.
Following a comprehensive review, Defence is lifting restrictions that previously prevented people living with HIV from working in military aviation as aircrew or controllers across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, ensuring they can pursue any career path within the armed forces based on their skills and abilities.
Personnel and all those wishing to join the military who take treatment for HIV, and whose blood tests show no detectable virus, have been recognised as able to serve in almost all roles since June 2022. Today’s policy update now includes the remaining three professions: aircrew and air traffic controllers in all services and Royal Navy divers.
The review, conducted in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust and the British HIV Association, has resulted in policy changes across all three services:
Royal Navy: The review confirmed that military divers face no HIV-specific additional barriers, with no evidence of discrimination.
British Army: Defence policy has been updated to remove the indirect medical restriction on people living with HIV serving in the Parachute Regiment and airborne forces.
Royal Air Force and aviation: Restrictions in place for people living with HIV have been lifted for both current and potential aircrew and air traffic controllers.
I want to thank people living with HIV, Terrence Higgins Trust and the British HIV Association for their partnership in this review.
This is a landmark moment for our armed forces and for equality in military service. By lifting these final restrictions, we are ensuring that anyone living with HIV can serve their country in any role they choose, based on their talent and dedication, not on outdated policies.
This change is not just about updating policy—it is about changing culture, challenging stigma, and ensuring our armed forces remain a modern, inclusive employer that attracts the best talent from across our nation.
Four years ago, we became the first NATO nation to welcome people living with HIV into uniformed service. Today, we are leading again by becoming the first to allow them to serve and fully deploy in all roles.
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