Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what budget has been allocated by each of the Ministry of Defence’s six Top Level Budget (TLB) areas to the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman since 2016, by (1) year and (2) TLB area.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what budget will be allocated by the Ministry of Defence’s Single Service Top Level Budget (TLB) areas to the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for 2025–26 by TLB area.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the projected budget is for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces for 2025–26.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what the budget for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces has been for each year since its creation on 1 January 2016.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 6 January (HL3268), whether anyone provided external legal advice; if so, who; by what process such providers of legal advice were commissioned; and, what relevant interests, if any, they declared with regard to the Chagos Islands.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government has sought external legal advice at various times throughout the negotiations with Mauritius. The specific counsel instructed has depended on the nature of the legal issues involved. Counsel have a professional obligation not to accept instructions where there is a conflict of interest.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which external consultants or advisors, if any, have been involved in the negotiations with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Jonathan Powell was appointed as the PM's Envoy for the BIOT sovereignty negotiations on 6 September 2024. He started his role as the UK's National Security Adviser on 2 December. However, he will continue to engage on matters related to BIOT. The Government has also received external legal advice in relation to the negotiations with Mauritius over BIOT/the Chagos Archipelago over the course of several years.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 19 December (HL3498), what full or part time posts have been created within the armed forces to support the role of Service Complaints Ombudsman, broken down by service.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

While the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is a public appointment, entirely independent from the Ministry Of Defence (MOD) and has an office outside the MOD estate, the Department has a responsibility to ensure the Ombudsman is provided with sufficient funding.

Since the establishment of the SCOAF in January 2016, the MOD has worked closely with the current Ombudsman and her predecessors to regularly review and identify the required resources for them to carry out the functions associated with the role. Should additional resource be required, the MOD will work with the Ombudsman to determine how best to address the need.

The work of the Ombudsman is currently supported by two full time Civil Servants working within the Royal Navy, in addition to one Regular Officer (0.75 full time equivalent) and two full time Civil Servants within the Army. The Royal Air Forces does not have any formal positions established to directly support the SCOAF.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Coaker on 19 December (HL3498), what filtering mechanisms exist within the service complaints system to prevent vexatious complaints.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The following guidance is provided in Joint Service Publication 831 (Redress of Individual Grievances: Service Complaints) for complaint handlers should it be considered that a complaint may be vexatious:

All complaints are to be taken seriously and handled professionally and with consideration. If it is considered that a complaint may be vexatious, legal advice should be sought before making a decision on admissibility. Decision makers will need to consider if the complaint is substantially the same as a Service Complaint that has already been submitted and which has either been decided previously under the Service Complaints system or is currently being considered under the Service Complaints Process.