Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what monies he has allocated to fund publicity for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme in order to ensure awareness of the Scheme.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that all eligible LGBT Veterans are made aware of the Financial Recognition Scheme. To this end, we have employed a range of communication channels, including social media platforms, partnerships with external charities, and engagement with relevant networks, to reach out to LGBT Veterans affected by the historic ban. It would not be appropriate to disclose the precise funding allocated to these publicity efforts, as this information is considered commercially sensitive.
Our priority remains ensuring that those impacted by the ban are informed ahead of the Financial Recognition Scheme’s closure at 23:59 on 12 December 2026, and we will continue to work with stakeholders and utilise appropriate communication methods to achieve this.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the costs of operating the Impact Panel under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme are; and whether the costs of operating the Impact Panel will be taken from the £75M allocated for reparations.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I am withholding the cost of operating the Impact Panel under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme as this information is commercial in confidence. None of the operating costs are taken from the £75 million allocated for making payments under the Scheme.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the agreement with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory on global security.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For decades, Diego Garcia has played a critical role in global security. It is a critical enabler of our ability to respond to crises and counter complex, challenging security threats. This agreement will safeguard the strategic security interests of the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and the United States, as well as our other regional partners, well into the next century.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to permit people living with HIV to serve (a) as pilots, (b) as air traffic controllers and (c) in other roles in the armed forces.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As a new Government, we are commissioning a review into the circumstances where those who are living with HIV are not permitted to fulfil some roles within the Armed Forces.
After recent changes there are only a very small number of roles where those living with HIV are currently excluded from serving, including aircrew and pilots. We note changes made to rules around civil aviation in respect of people living with HIV and I have asked the Department to consider whether the current policy measures, especially given advances in PREP, are consistent with the values and standards of our Armed Forces.
I have asked for this review to be delivered swiftly. I would be happy to meet the righ hon. Member and cross-party colleagues to discuss this matter further with a view to a decision being taken by the Ministers in the coming weeks.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) recent progress has been made on the Twenty Shilling Windfarm agreement and (b) assessment he has made of when that agreement will be concluded.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials are working collaboratively with the developer to see if a Mitigation Scheme could be devised to allow the Twenty Shilling windfarm to be built whilst protecting the nearby Eskdalemuir Seismological Array. The scheme is complex and covers noise monitoring, testing, reporting, compliance, and curtailment.
A legal agreement would need to be reached by all parties, that legal agreement is progressing. If a mitigation scheme is achievable MOD officials aim to be in a position to conclude the legal agreement in the next few months, subject to negotiation.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what schemes his Department has introduced to recognise the long service of non-military personnel.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
The mechanism by which civil servants are recognised for their long and meritorious service is the Imperial Service Medal, issued by the Cabinet Office. It is presented to selected civil servants who complete at least 25 years' service upon their retirement, to certain grades. In the Ministry of Defence, this is skill zone or Pay Band E grades.
Within the Ministry of Defence, there are likely to be schemes at unit level that are administered locally. A list of any such schemes are not held centrally.