Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) shortest, (b) average and (c) longest time taken is between application to and a payment under the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme has received 330 applications and accepted and paid 209 claims since it was launched on 16 October 2023. Of those, 90 per cent of all claims have been processed and 97 per cent of payments made to those eligible within the published timescales. The Recognition Payment Scheme is delivering effectively to those it was established to recognise.
The shortest time taken between an application being received and a payment being made was 19 working days and the longest 88 working days, with an average of 56 working days.
The below table shows the number of applications made to the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was launched on 16 October 2023.
Month | Number of applications received |
October 2023 | 165 |
November 2023 | 86 |
December 2023 | 25 |
January 2024 | 15 |
February 2024 | 22 |
March 2024 | 10 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 1 |
Total | 330 |
The scheme is administered by a dedicated team of six staff, and application support is available through the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications have been made to the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was announced.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme has received 330 applications and accepted and paid 209 claims since it was launched on 16 October 2023. Of those, 90 per cent of all claims have been processed and 97 per cent of payments made to those eligible within the published timescales. The Recognition Payment Scheme is delivering effectively to those it was established to recognise.
The shortest time taken between an application being received and a payment being made was 19 working days and the longest 88 working days, with an average of 56 working days.
The below table shows the number of applications made to the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was launched on 16 October 2023.
Month | Number of applications received |
October 2023 | 165 |
November 2023 | 86 |
December 2023 | 25 |
January 2024 | 15 |
February 2024 | 22 |
March 2024 | 10 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 1 |
Total | 330 |
The scheme is administered by a dedicated team of six staff, and application support is available through the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications have been (a) made to, (b) approved by and (c) paid by the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme has received 330 applications and accepted and paid 209 claims since it was launched on 16 October 2023. Of those, 90 per cent of all claims have been processed and 97 per cent of payments made to those eligible within the published timescales. The Recognition Payment Scheme is delivering effectively to those it was established to recognise.
The shortest time taken between an application being received and a payment being made was 19 working days and the longest 88 working days, with an average of 56 working days.
The below table shows the number of applications made to the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was launched on 16 October 2023.
Month | Number of applications received |
October 2023 | 165 |
November 2023 | 86 |
December 2023 | 25 |
January 2024 | 15 |
February 2024 | 22 |
March 2024 | 10 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 1 |
Total | 330 |
The scheme is administered by a dedicated team of six staff, and application support is available through the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department work on the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme has received 330 applications and accepted and paid 209 claims since it was launched on 16 October 2023. Of those, 90 per cent of all claims have been processed and 97 per cent of payments made to those eligible within the published timescales. The Recognition Payment Scheme is delivering effectively to those it was established to recognise.
The shortest time taken between an application being received and a payment being made was 19 working days and the longest 88 working days, with an average of 56 working days.
The below table shows the number of applications made to the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was launched on 16 October 2023.
Month | Number of applications received |
October 2023 | 165 |
November 2023 | 86 |
December 2023 | 25 |
January 2024 | 15 |
February 2024 | 22 |
March 2024 | 10 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 1 |
Total | 330 |
The scheme is administered by a dedicated team of six staff, and application support is available through the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme has received 330 applications and accepted and paid 209 claims since it was launched on 16 October 2023. Of those, 90 per cent of all claims have been processed and 97 per cent of payments made to those eligible within the published timescales. The Recognition Payment Scheme is delivering effectively to those it was established to recognise.
The shortest time taken between an application being received and a payment being made was 19 working days and the longest 88 working days, with an average of 56 working days.
The below table shows the number of applications made to the War Widow(er)s Recognition Payment Scheme in each month since it was launched on 16 October 2023.
Month | Number of applications received |
October 2023 | 165 |
November 2023 | 86 |
December 2023 | 25 |
January 2024 | 15 |
February 2024 | 22 |
March 2024 | 10 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 1 |
Total | 330 |
The scheme is administered by a dedicated team of six staff, and application support is available through the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will conduct a freedom of navigation exercise around Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb for the purpose of establishing their non-Iranian status.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We are not conducting freedom of navigation operations around these islands. However, we keep operations in the Gulf under constant review. The UK supports the United Arab Emirates’ call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands – Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa – through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter.
The UK is dedicated to defending freedom of navigation in the Gulf, which is crucial for the global trading system and world economy, with the deployment of HMS DIAMOND to enhance our current footprint in the region. We are proud to be partnering with other members of the international community to uphold the rules based approach.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the manufacture of military weapons in Ukraine.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Yes. On 13-14 Dec 2023 we held the UK's first trade mission visit to Kyiv. This brought together UK and Ukrainian government officials with key stakeholders from UK and Ukrainian industry to discuss opportunities for long-term cooperation. The agreements signed between UK and Ukrainian companies will enhance resilient defence industrial facilities inside Ukraine.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on the US contribution to the military balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK's priority is the long term continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia and Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. We continue to work in lockstep with the US to this end and have their full support. The Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary Austin discussed the British Indian Ocean Territory in Washington DC on 1 December 2023.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the recent military action in Yemen on the level of national security risk associated with the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by James Heappey
Our clear aim is the continued full operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in national, regional and global security. Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. The joint UK/US military facility helps to keep people around the world safe, combatting some of the most challenging threats to international peace and security.
We must look at all the risks there could be in any change of circumstances. The UK will only enter into an agreement that protects our national interests and those of our partners.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help increase production of 155mm shells for Ukraine.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) placed an order in June 2023 with BAE Systems to provide an eight-fold increase in production capability of 155mm shells. The MOD contract is for significant initial quantities of 155mm shells which will reinstate and build sovereign capability and stockpiles.
In respect of artillery ammunition being providing to Ukraine, since the start of the conflict, the UK has donated over 300,000 rounds of artillery ammunition - including 155mm and Former Soviet Union calibres.