Lord Moynihan

The UK and EU have now agreed the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which came into force on 31^st December 2020.

As part of the TCA, the UK and EU have agreed a framework under which both parties may agree arrangements on the recognition of professional qualifications (such as mutual recognition agreements) covering the UK and all 27 EU Member States. The first step towards such an arrangement is for professional bodies or authorities to submit a joint recommendation to the UK-EU Partnership Council. Once an arrangement is adopted under the TCA, UK professionals will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition of their professional qualifications, helping them to provide services within EU Member States.

In due course, professionals will be able to take advantage of any profession-specific EU-wide arrangements agreed under the TCA framework. Until this point, UK-qualified professionals who wish to supply services in the EU should seek recognition of their qualifications according to the local laws and regulations of the relevant EU Member State. It is up to appropriate local regulators within alpine nations to determine whether UK-qualified professionals are permitted to practise in their territories.

The Simple Energy Advice Service (SEA) was launched in 2018, in response to the Government-commissioned Each Home Counts Review, as a digital and phone line service to provide homeowners with impartial and tailored advice on how to cut their energy bills and make their homes greener. Since the launch of SEA, over 1 million unique users have accessed the site. We are committed to improving the SEA website, based on user needs and user research.

At a local level, the Government has provided £4.7 million to six local supply chain demonstration pilots, which are testing new approaches to supporting home energy retrofit in the able-to-pay sector in England. We are also working with Local Authorities through the Local Energy Programme to develop support for local retrofit programmes by addressing local barriers to clean growth activity.

There are several government-funded schemes available to help support the installation of energy efficiency measures for fuel poor households. The low-income element of the £1.5bn Green Homes Grant vouchers scheme is open to homeowners in receipt of certain benefits. Installation of measures under the scheme will be covered up to a maximum of £10,000. This extra support for low-income households, is likely to help those who are unable to keep their homes warm at a reasonable cost, and who are unable to cover the cost of energy efficiency upgrades to their home.

The Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Scheme provides an additional £500 million focused on owner occupiers, those in the private and social rented sector, with a household income of under £30,000. The primary purpose of LAD is to raise the energy efficiency rating of low income and low EPC rated homes (rated D, E, F or G), including those living in the worst quality off-gas grid homes.

In addition, the current Energy Company Obligation continues until March 2022. It requires large energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to fuel poor domestic households. Homeowners on low incomes are eligible under the scheme and low-income private renters living in the least energy efficient homes can also be eligible for solid wall insulation and renewable heating.

The Common Training Test (CTT) for ski instructors was established by the European Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/907, and only applies to citizens of EU Member States. Now the Transition Period is over, the CTT no longer applies in the UK and UK ski instructors do not have access to the CTT.

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, in common with other professionals, UK snow sports instructors who have had their qualifications recognised before the end of the Transition Period, or who applied for recognition before the end of the Transition Period and subsequently have that recognition granted, and who are resident or frontier workers in the EU Member State that recognised them at the end of the Transition Period, will have that recognition protected and will be able to continue to rely upon it.

Following the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, if UK professionals wish to provide services in the EU, the recognition of their professional qualifications across all industries (including snow sports instructors) is subject to the local laws and regulations of individual Member States. Over time, the UK-EU Partnership Council may enter into, and adopt, profession-by-profession mutual recognition agreements.

Under consumer law consumers are entitled to a refund within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Many businesses are also offering consumers vouchers or alternative dates, which consumers are able to choose should they wish. The Government is engaging with the package travel sector and consumer advocacy bodies to assess the impact of cancellations made in light of the covid-19 outbreak.

We have announced £30 million for PE teacher training and to open up school facilities to provide access to the wider community. At the recent Spending Review, we announced £205 million to build or transform up to 8,000 state-of-the-art community football pitches and multi-use sports facilities across the UK. This was in addition to a £30 million package to renovate park tennis courts across the country.

Please the staff figures below for DCMS teams that work on sport and recreation policy. Data based on staff in post on the 26/07/2021.

The Government is aware of the concerns which have been raised about the potential challenge of securing insurance for live events, including those in the sporting and entertainment sectors. We have been working closely with the affected sectors over the last few months to understand the challenges and to keep the situation under review.

Understandably, the bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of the furlough scheme and local business support, so the evidence of market failure specific to DCMS sectors must be clearly demonstrated and robust.

Sports and physical activity including golf are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus.

On Monday 4 January the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown and instructed people to stay at home to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. All decisions made by the Government relating to the pandemic and sport have been based on advice and guidance from health and scientific experts. We have no plans to publish the evidence for individual decisions relating to specific sports.

You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, in a public outdoor place and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including golf courses, must close.

It is the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) role to approve new testing processes. WADA has not yet developed a test for gene editing due to the complexities in identifying gene doping. To mitigate the threat of gene doping, WADA has a Gene and Cell Doping Expert Group which provides direction to its Health, Medical and Research Committee. The Committee develops strategies to prevent and detect non-therapeutic manipulation of gene/protein in sport.

WADA has approved tests for RNA, but these are only being used in experimental environments for research, and not yet by anti-doping organisations (including UK Anti-Doping).

UK Anti-Doping split the samples they collect from each athlete into “A” samples which are analysed, and “B” samples which are stored securely for potential future tests. Samples can be stored for up to 10 years.

The department continues to work closely with schools and stakeholders to remain abreast of developments in the provision of physical education (PE) in schools. In March 2022, Ofsted published a research review into PE. Ofsted will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how PE is taught in England’s schools. Ofsted will then publish a subject report to share its findings.

In October 2021, the government announced nearly £30 million a year towards improving the teaching of PE at primary school and opening school sport facilities in England.

A series of approaches are currently being considered as to how the department can bring together the evidence on what constitutes good PE, how this can be practically delivered, and how to support schools to identify and take the steps they need to make their provision as good as it can be. Further information on this will be published as part of the update to the school sport and activity action plan.

This year, the government is investing over £200 million in its holiday activities and food (HAF) programme.

All 152 local authorities in England are delivering the programme in the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays. The HAF provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. This benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning.

The holiday clubs on this programme must provide physical activities daily. Children take part in moderate to vigorous activities for up to 60 minutes at each session.

The department is also exploring a summer activity challenge to provide more opportunities for children to be physically active during the summer holidays.

The department continues to encourage new partnerships to form between independent and state-funded schools. Whilst partnerships can cover a wide range of activities, many independent schools collaborate with local state schools and their communities by hosting joint events or sharing facilities. The 2020 Census by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), covering the period immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic, found that 87% of its member schools were involved in partnerships with local state schools. 30% of these reported sharing sports fields, 28% swimming pools, and 22% a concert hall or theatre.

As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the department encourages more schools to experience the opportunities of working in partnership in areas including, but not limited to, sharing facilities. For example, across teacher and curriculum development, governance and leadership, and other targeted forms of school improvement.

The department’s joint understanding with the ISC is designed to expand the participation of independent schools across other areas which help to demonstrate that sector’s commitment to its local communities, such as by encouraging schools to offer support targeted at children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The department welcomes the ISC’s efforts to increase participation, alongside charities such as the Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation and the School Partnerships Alliance. The department will continue to work together with these organisations to ensure that even more children benefit, irrespective of their backgrounds or the schools they attend.

The register of apprenticeship training providers is open to applicants now, but only where the training they offer meets the definition of ‘critical workers’ in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, with a linked employer endorsement to verify that any new training responds to an identified training gap. We will keep this approach to targeted entry to the register under review subject to the course of the COVID-19 outbreak, which will include any changes to the definition of ‘critical workers’ that may arise.

That approach reflects the government’s plan to raise the quality of delivery across the apprenticeship training market, and to progressively introduce more stringent entry criteria for entry to the register. On that basis, we have also been recently inviting all current, active providers on the register to reapply.

As set out in the response given by My Rt Hon Friend, Lord Goldsmith, the Government recognises the current evidence demonstrating the benefits of engaging with nature for people’s physical and mental health and the benefits a long-term target would have.

However, further evidence is needed to support the establishment of any such target. Initial scoping work has already been undertaken on possible metrics, but further development is needed. This work is ongoing.

Natural England’s England-wide map of green infrastructure will be launched in December as part of the emerging National Framework of Green Infrastructure Standards. This includes mapping of accessible natural greenspace which will help identify priorities for creation and enhancement, including to address inequalities in access to greenspace.

Public access is of high importance when considering how people can enjoy treasured landscapes and water bodies.

The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.

Public access is of high importance when considering how people can enjoy treasured landscapes and water bodies.

The Agricultural Transition Plan was published in November 2020 and the Government published an update in June 2021. Further information on the Environmental Land Management Schemes will be published later this year.

As a third country, Great Britain no longer has access to the Tripartite Agreement, however, Northern Ireland remains part of the Agreement under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is working closely with representatives of the equine industry to support the continued movement of all horses, including thoroughbreds, to and from the European Union. This has included clarifying the specific requirements of individual EU Border Control Posts to avoid unnecessary delays at the ports and ensuring the European Commission and EU Member States are fully aware of the detail of GB import arrangements.

The European Commission has made clear that, as a third country, Great Britain will no longer have access to the Tripartite Agreement from 1 January 2021. Northern Ireland will remain part of it under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is therefore continuing to work closely with industry to facilitate the continued movement of equines following the Transition Period, recognising the value of the equine sector to the entire UK economy.?This will include allowing horses from the European Union that pose a low disease risk, including from France and Ireland, to continue to enter Great Britain with only necessary animal health controls.

The Cycle City Ambition Programme was completed in 2018.

On 7 February 2020, the Department published a detailed breakdown of annual investment in cycling and walking from 2016/17 to 2018/19 alongside the first report on progress made towards delivering the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). This included information on how much funding each local authority received over that period for active travel schemes.

The Department will publish a further report to Parliament shortly which will include a breakdown of annual investment in cycling and walking over 2019/20 and 2020/21 from a wide range of funding sources. It will also make an announcement shortly on the capital funding that was allocated to local authorities in 2021/22.

Copies of the previous report to Parliament and funding breakdowns by local authority covering the years up to 2018/19 are available in the House Libraries.

A summary of the capital funding provided to each local authority in 2020/21 under the Active Travel Fund is set out in table 1 attached. A summary of the revenue funding provided to each local authority in 2021/22 under the Capability Fund is set out in Table 2 attached.

Over the last five years, the Government has awarded Sustrans £77 million in grant funding to improve the safety and accessibility of the National Cycle Network (NCN). As custodians of the Network, Sustrans works with local authorities and other partners such as the Canal and River Trust to identify priorities for investment in the NCN, and channels funding to partners to deliver these upgrades. The table below lists the 10 local authority areas which have received, or are forecast to receive, the greatest level of investment in NCN routes from the overall £77 million.

Over and above the funding provided to Sustrans, the Government has also provided local authorities with significant amounts of capital funding to support active travel. It is for authorities to determine how best to use this in their areas, including whether or not to spend any of it to improve routes which include stretches of the NCN, and the Department does not therefore hold an aggregate figure for total spend on the NCN over this period.

National Highways is committed to supporting active travel and making the Strategic Road Network (SRN), comprising our motorways and principal A-Roads, accessible and safer for cyclists, by delivering 200 new cycling facilities and improved crossing points between 2016 and 2021. A total number of 160 cycling schemes and 438 new or upgraded crossings for cyclists, pedestrians and/or horse-riders (211 new and 227 upgraded) have been delivered up to March 2020.

Whilst not targeted in the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) (2020 to 2025), National Highways is committed to improving the SRN’s impact on cyclists, walkers and other vulnerable users. Designated Funds form a part of National Highways’ contribution to this, through the Walkers Cyclists and Horse riders’ theme within its User and Community fund.

Through Designated Funds, National Highways is providing new infrastructure for road users, and enhancing existing facilities, through targeted local investment. National Highways has invested £45.3 million since April 2020 and has a further £24 million of approved projects for delivery.

Between 2017/18 and 2020/21 a total of 1,376,657 Bikeability training places were delivered using DfT funding, in England outside London. Cycle training in London is a matter for the Mayor of London and the Department does not hold figures for the number of training places delivered there.

Figures for 2021/22 will be published in Summer 2022 and will be available on the Bikeability website at https://www.bikeability.org.uk/about/funding-and-delivery.

The Heath Promotion Taskforce is a Cabinet Committee. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.

The Government is currently refreshing the School Sport and Activity Action Plan and developing a new cross-government sport strategy. Government Departments are collaborating to embed evidence-based approaches to address inactivity and support health. This includes enabling national and local action to create increase physical activity, supporting health and addressing inequalities. Options for coordination across these strategies are currently being considered by the Departments involved.

We expect to complete recruitment for senior posts in the Office for Health Promotion by this autumn.

Alongside the creation of the Office for Health Promotion, we will establish a new ministerial board on prevention to co-ordinate cross-Government action to improve accountability on the wider determinants of health.

The Office for Health Promotion (OHP) will work with teams across the Department, the health system and wider partners to support action on physical activity. We will present more detail on our plans and ambitions for the OHP in due course.

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

The execution of Navik Afkari by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK Government made clear its public condemnation of the action on 12 September. The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and we unreservedly support the right to peaceful protest. Iran's human rights record is of serious and longstanding concern to the UK. The continued use of the death penalty, weak rule of law and restrictions on freedoms of expression remain deeply worrying. We share the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran's concerns that death sentences were handed down and/or implemented following proceedings that did not comply with fair trial and due process safeguards. The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the right to a fair trial. We will continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

On 19 May, the Secretary of State for International Trade announced the UK Global Tariff^[[1]] which will take effect on 1 January 2021. It set out the UK’s Most Favoured Nation (MFN) import tariffs, including for wine and spirits, on GOV.UK. These are the tariffs that will apply to all imports unless there is a preferential trading arrangement in place.

Under the UK Global Tariff, import tariffs on wines and spirits will range from 0% to 40%, depending on the type of product. Within the 0-40% range, the average tariff will be around 8% on wine and approximately 1% on spirits. However, where a preferential trading arrangement is in place, for example a Free Trade Agreement, the tariffs will be lower and often 0%.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/check-tariffs-1-january-2021

HMRC’s IT delivery of the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) is expected to be ready from January 2021.

The government is committed to ensuring that the UK has a robust framework for regulating financial services and that consumers are treated fairly.

Financial services firms are required to treat customers fairly under rules set by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the FCA is responsible for overseeing the conduct standards of financial services firms. There are a range of FCA rules governing the timeliness of payments to consumers in relation to client money and investments.

Where investments are held in funds, FCA rules specify that an authorised fund manager must pay the proceeds of a redemption to the registered holder of the fund units within four business days. Where firms hold client assets, in general FCA rules require firms to pay money to clients within one business day after it becomes due and payable.

Where an investor holds fund units through a regulated platform provider, their interactions are determined by the terms and conditions of the platform provider’s client agreement with the investor. However, regulated platform providers are subject to FCA rules on treating customers fairly with regard to these terms and conditions, and any money held under the client money rules would be paid to the client within one business day as set out above.

It would not be possible for an investor to withdraw their assets from a fund if the fund has suspended dealing. FCA rules permit suspensions, which may last only for as long as is necessary to protect the interests of the investors in the fund. Suspensions can be a necessary safety feature which protects investors where the value of a fund’s assets cannot be known with sufficient certainty or where the fund would otherwise have to make sales at distressed market prices to service withdrawals.

Further to the written answer of 26 October 2021, of the group of sixteen children with UK based relatives evacuated to Qatar from Afghanistan, none are now in Qatar. Seven children have been settled with their families in the US and of the remaining children, they are either being settled in the US as they have no family able to safely accommodate them in the UK or are awaiting further assessment from either US or UK local authorities ahead of a final decision on where they will stay permanently.

The Home Office is aware of a group of unaccompanied Afghan minors with family links to the UK in Qatar and officials are working closely with UNICEF and the US State Department to ensure the most appropriate outcomes for these children.

Our priority is to ensure that the children will be safe and well cared for and to ensure any outcome is in the best interests of the children. Where it is deemed to be in the best interest of a child to come to the UK, suitable support arrangements will be made available.

The provisions within the Immigration Rules for both Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) will continue in the future immigration system. These routes will be amended to accommodate applications from elite sportspersons and coaches from the European Economic Area and Switzerland, along with those from the rest of the world, from 1 January 2021.

The UK Government does not have any plans to include clergy, sportspersons, coaches, instructors or officials under the new Skilled Worker route. The current provisions of Tier 2 (Ministers of Religion) and Tier 5 (Religious Workers) for clergy, and Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) for sportspeople, are dedicated routes for such activities.

The UK’s immigration arrangements for professional sportspersons seek to strike a balance between ensuring that UK sports can access top-end talent that will enhance sport in the UK, whilst at the same time protecting opportunities for resident players and supporting grassroots sport. The Government works with Sports Governing Bodies to set bespoke criteria, with every sport’s criteria reviewed annually, ensuring that it continues to meet the changing needs of the individual sport. The success of UK sports clearly demonstrates that this system is one which works well.

The system of endorsement is operated by the Sports Governing Bodies to ensure that an objective assessment is made of each individual sportsperson. Individual clubs are asked to fulfil their sponsorship duties, in a dual-level of assurance.

The provisions within the Immigration Rules for both Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) will continue in the future immigration system. These routes will be amended to accommodate applications from elite sportspersons and coaches from the European Economic Area and Switzerland, along with those from the rest of the world, from 1 January 2021.

The UK Government does not have any plans to include clergy, sportspersons, coaches, instructors or officials under the new Skilled Worker route. The current provisions of Tier 2 (Ministers of Religion) and Tier 5 (Religious Workers) for clergy, and Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) for sportspeople, are dedicated routes for such activities.

The UK’s immigration arrangements for professional sportspersons seek to strike a balance between ensuring that UK sports can access top-end talent that will enhance sport in the UK, whilst at the same time protecting opportunities for resident players and supporting grassroots sport. The Government works with Sports Governing Bodies to set bespoke criteria, with every sport’s criteria reviewed annually, ensuring that it continues to meet the changing needs of the individual sport. The success of UK sports clearly demonstrates that this system is one which works well.

The system of endorsement is operated by the Sports Governing Bodies to ensure that an objective assessment is made of each individual sportsperson. Individual clubs are asked to fulfil their sponsorship duties, in a dual-level of assurance.

The provisions within the Immigration Rules for both Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) will continue in the future immigration system. These routes will be amended to accommodate applications from elite sportspersons and coaches from the European Economic Area and Switzerland, along with those from the rest of the world, from 1 January 2021.

The UK Government does not have any plans to include clergy, sportspersons, coaches, instructors or officials under the new Skilled Worker route. The current provisions of Tier 2 (Ministers of Religion) and Tier 5 (Religious Workers) for clergy, and Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) for sportspeople, are dedicated routes for such activities.

The UK’s immigration arrangements for professional sportspersons seek to strike a balance between ensuring that UK sports can access top-end talent that will enhance sport in the UK, whilst at the same time protecting opportunities for resident players and supporting grassroots sport. The Government works with Sports Governing Bodies to set bespoke criteria, with every sport’s criteria reviewed annually, ensuring that it continues to meet the changing needs of the individual sport. The success of UK sports clearly demonstrates that this system is one which works well.

The system of endorsement is operated by the Sports Governing Bodies to ensure that an objective assessment is made of each individual sportsperson. Individual clubs are asked to fulfil their sponsorship duties, in a dual-level of assurance.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a no-fault scheme and is therefore different from awards for damages paid through the courts. If an individual believes they have been injured as a result of negligence, having an AFCS award does not prevent them from bringing a claim through the common law damages route, although an AFCS award would be taken into account in the damages payment (or vice versa). This is in keeping with the longstanding principle that an individual should not be compensated twice for the same injury.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with the NHS to ensure smooth transition in medical care when leaving service. In the majority of cases, the NHS are able to meet the need for successful rehabilitation. In cases where more specialist support is needed, bespoke MOD funding packages may be available.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) is a no-fault scheme and is therefore different from awards for damages paid through the courts. If an individual believes they have been injured as a result of negligence, having an AFCS award does not prevent them from bringing a claim through the common law damages route, although an AFCS award would be taken into account in the damages payment (or vice versa). This is in keeping with the longstanding principle that an individual should not be compensated twice for the same injury.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with the NHS to ensure smooth transition in medical care when leaving service. In the majority of cases, the NHS are able to meet the need for successful rehabilitation. In cases where more specialist support is needed, bespoke MOD funding packages may be available.

Where an individual has a lasting injury received as a result of service which has an ongoing impact on the amount they are able to earn over their lifetime in terms of both salary and pension, financial security is provided through a lifelong, tax-free, inflation-proof, income known as a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).

The GIP calculation takes account of both salary and age in determining the lifelong loss of earnings the individual is likely to face, both salary and pension, as a result of their service-caused injury or injuries. It also includes an enhancement for lost future military promotions. This calculation enables the Department to provide a payment that not only recognises final salary but also loss of future potential earnings.

An online Armed Forces Compensation and War Pension Scheme application service has been developed and is currently being tested in a beta phase. The service will be presented for a Government Digital Service (GDS) assessment on 31 March 2022 when the GDS will assess the quality, suitability and security of the service. During this assessment further opportunities to improve the service may be identified, prompting a further phase of improvements before a second assessment - likely to be scheduled for early summer 2022.

Launch of the service to the public will follow attainment of a successful Beta assessment.

The Transformation Programme to digitise existing paper based processes and create a single customer portal for Veterans is underway. This complex and detailed programme is being managed by contractors in collaboration with Defence Business Services and the Discovery phase for the three schemes (Armed Forces Pension Scheme, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pensions Scheme) is nearing completion. The programme aims to introduce automation, processing improvements and significantly reduce paper holdings. The first release of the new system is expected in late 2023. This will underpin the customer portal, which is being developed concurrently. This will enable members to provide and retrieve information electronically and allow them to securely access details of their entitlement and payments.