Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of criminalising those who impersonate a (a) serving member of the armed forces or (b) veteran.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made no assessment of introducing new offences for impersonating Armed Forces personnel or Veterans and has no current plans to consider criminalising such impersonation, given that existing measures already apply in certain circumstances.
Veterans are expected to adhere to the guidance regarding the wearing of medals. However, it is not a criminal offence for Veterans, or the public, to wear medals to which they are not entitled unless, by doing so, an individual is seeking to make personal gain or defraud others.
The Fraud Act 2006 (and common law fraud offences in Scotland) make it an offence for anyone to fraudulently wear uniforms or medals, or by pretending to be or have been in the Armed Forces, if for financial gain or to cause disadvantage to others.
Further, under the Uniforms Act 1894, it is an offence for anyone to wear an Armed Forces uniform without permission, or to wear any dress having the appearance, or bearing any regimental or distinctive marks, of any such uniform. This does not, however, prevent individuals wearing a uniform for theatrical or similar purposes.
Whenever it is suspected that an individual might be committing an offence, as described above, the matter should be reported to the civilian police.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing offences for impersonating serving armed forces personnel or veterans.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has made no assessment of introducing new offences for impersonating Armed Forces personnel or Veterans and has no current plans to consider criminalising such impersonation, given that existing measures already apply in certain circumstances.
Veterans are expected to adhere to the guidance regarding the wearing of medals. However, it is not a criminal offence for Veterans, or the public, to wear medals to which they are not entitled unless, by doing so, an individual is seeking to make personal gain or defraud others.
The Fraud Act 2006 (and common law fraud offences in Scotland) make it an offence for anyone to fraudulently wear uniforms or medals, or by pretending to be or have been in the Armed Forces, if for financial gain or to cause disadvantage to others.
Further, under the Uniforms Act 1894, it is an offence for anyone to wear an Armed Forces uniform without permission, or to wear any dress having the appearance, or bearing any regimental or distinctive marks, of any such uniform. This does not, however, prevent individuals wearing a uniform for theatrical or similar purposes.
Whenever it is suspected that an individual might be committing an offence, as described above, the matter should be reported to the civilian police.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on reducing veteran homelessness in Scotland.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This is a Government that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am working closely with Devolved Governments to ensure veterans across the UK have access to the support they need on housing, which is a devolved matter.
I, and my predecessor have engaged regularly with the Scottish Government and with the Scottish Veterans’ Commissioner on issues affecting veterans who live in Scotland.
The Reducing Veterans’ Homelessness Programme provides vital supported housing services to veterans across the UK. This programme has awarded grants to organisations across the UK, including £290,882 for organisations supporting veterans in Scotland.
Organisations across the UK have been eligible to apply for funding under the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund. This funding is used to refurbish or build new social and affordable accommodation for veterans. To date, this programme has awarded five grants to organisations in Scotland totalling £1,565,931.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen the UK’s ability to protect its satellite infrastructure from (a) cyber attacks, (b) jamming and (c) other forms of hostile interference.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Protecting the UK's satellites and related ground infrastructure is a Defence priority. The Strategic Defence Review affirms that satellite communication and data relays are fundamental to the Armed Forces’ ability to understand the battlespace, exchange information, and make and communicate decisions in real time.
Our ongoing work in this area focuses on improving space awareness, asset security, and system resilience, whilst incorporating relevant lessons from the conflict in Ukraine and from our Allies and international partners.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what steps his Department is taking to support the creation of defence-related jobs in (a) domestic supply chains, (b) advance manufacturing and (c) other areas; and what proportion of new manufacturing work will be assembly-based compared to that delivered through the wider supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Strategic Defence Review sets the path for making defence an engine for growth, boosting prosperity, jobs and security for working people across the UK, in support of this Government’s growth mission.
The UK’s manufacturing industry is vital not only to our national security but to our prosperity and economic growth which is why the Defence Industrial Strategy will include measures to back UK business and make defence an engine for growth as we realise the defence dividend. This Government is committed to strengthening domestic supply chains including in the advanced manufacturing sector.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of awarding a specific Gallipoli campaign medal to British soldiers that served in that campaign between February 1915 and January 1916, in the context of the recognition granted to Australian and New Zealand troops through the Anzac Commemorative Medallion; and whether his Department has had discussions on this with (a) veterans' organisations and (b) other relevant stakeholders.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Campaign, as well as long-service and gallantry medals were all issued to eligible Service personnel during and immediately after the First World War. The Ministry of Defence does not usually review decisions on medallic recognition when more than five years have elapsed since the event. This is because it is viewed that those making the required judgements at the time, were better placed to do so, than now. This principle has been examined by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee a number of times and on each occasion has been found to be sound.
Campaign medals, which are awarded in circumstances meeting certain thresholds or risk and rigour, any carry with them strict eligibility criteria, differ considerably from commemorative medallions which purely memorialise an event at a later date and have a wider distribution.
Whilst we recognise and are indebted to the significant bravery and sacrifice of those British troops who served alongside their Anzac counterparts during the Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War, no commemorative medal is currently planned.