Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his expected timeline is for concluding all claims to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, including those with registered intent.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) Framework Document, published in March 2025, sets out the timelines agreed between IBCA and Cabinet Office; namely for the bulk of infected people to be paid no later than the end of 2027 and the bulk of affected people to be paid no later than the end of 2029.
I have been absolutely clear that these dates should not be viewed as targets for delivery, but rather ‘backstops’. These timescales have been agreed with IBCA, to ensure that the door is kept open for those who have not yet identified themselves as being infected or affected.
The Government fully supports IBCA in its commitment to move forward as swiftly as possible, and it is a positive step that all registered infected people have now been contacted to begin their claim, and that IBCA has started the first claims from all eligible groups.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department paid the Davies Group for services relating to the handling of civil compensation claims in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 111121 on 23 March 2026.
This is available at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-05/111121
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total monetary value of the contract between his Department and the Davies Group for the handling, administration and negotiation of civil compensation claims against his Department.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The current contract limit of liability between the Ministry of Defence and the Davies Group is £10,195,000 ex VAT.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to provide the annual cost of the contract with the Davies Group for the last 5 years for managing all MOD civil claims.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The fees paid to the Davies Group for the management of claims for the last five financial years (FY) are as follows:
FY2020-21: £223,614
FY2021-22: £461,521
FY2022-23: £577,131
FY2023-24: £482,598
FY2024-25: £4,119,197
The significant increase in FY2024-25 is largely driven by the unprecedented high numbers of NIHL claims being received by the Department which has impacted costs as a management fee is applied per claim.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people served in the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions on a part-time basis up to and including disbandment in August 2007.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The number of part time personnel who served in the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions from its formation on 1 July 1992 until August 2007 is shown below:
01-Apr-07 | - |
01-Apr-06 | 1,170 |
01-Apr-05 | 1,210 |
01-Apr-04 | 1,300 |
01-Apr-03 | 1,390 |
01-Apr-02 | 1,500 |
01-Apr-01 | 1,680 |
01-Apr-00 | 1,780 |
01-Apr-99 | 1,910 |
01-Apr-98 | 1,960 |
01-Apr-97 | 2,010 |
01-Apr-96 | 2,120 |
01-Apr-95 | 2,260 |
01-Apr-94 | 2,480 |
01-Apr-93 | 2,700 |
01-Apr-92 | - |
Notes:
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people served in the Ulster Defence Regiment on a part-time basis between 1970 and 1992.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Electronic data is only held going back to 1984, prior to this the only information held is on the 1975 and 1980 strengths. This information can be found below.
The Ulster Defence Regiment Part Time Strength as at 1 April 1975, 1 April 1980 and from 1 April 1984 - 1 April 1992
01-Apr-92 | 2,990 |
01-Apr-91 | 3,120 |
01-Apr-90 | 3,300 |
01-Apr-89 | 3,420 |
01-Apr-88 | 3,510 |
01-Apr-87 | 3,720 |
01-Apr-86 | 3,770 |
01-Apr-85 | 3,730 |
01-Apr-84 | 4,090 |
01-Apr-80 | 4,820 |
01-Apr-75 | 6,280 |
Notes:
· Figures have been rounded to 10.
· Figures are absolute numbers.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his pension policy of the ruling of the Advocate General for Scotland v Mr Charles Milroy [2026] EAT 25; and what steps he intends to take.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Due to the ongoing legal process, it is not possible to provide a substantive comment on the case. The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the judgment in detail to understand its implications fully and a further update will be provided once that assessment is complete.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hearing loss cases are pending with the Davies Group.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Ministry of Defence (MOD) Claims statistics are published annually. The next MOD common law compensation claims statistics will be published this summer.
Previously published Annual reports can be found at the following link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-compensation-claims-statistics
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what performance metrics the Davies Group are held to; and how frequently those metrics are evaluated.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Davies Group claims management contract requires Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to be reported quarterly. These reports are supplemented by regular fortnightly progress and performance meetings between Ministry of Defence officials and the Davies Group to discuss aspects of contract delivery and formulation of strategies for dealing with claims including the extremely high volumes of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss claims.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to provide the costs of Hearing Loss Claims in last 5 years to the MOD, including damages, costs and costs per case.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Statistics on the number of common law compensation claims and financial settlements including Noise-Induced Hearing Loss are published annually at the following link.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-compensation-claims-statistics
The next report will be published this summer, covering financial year 24-25, however it would be disproportionate to calculate the costs per case.