Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the current eligibility criteria for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for Regular Officers who were (a) discharged before 29 July 2014 and (b) served the same qualifying period as those who have received the medal under the revised rules; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending those criteria to ensure that all veteran officers are given equal recognition for their service, in the context of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This Government has the utmost admiration and appreciation for the loyal service of all our Armed Forces Veterans, however, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no current plan to recommend that the eligibility criteria for the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal are amended to include Regular Officers who served in the Armed Forces before 29 July 2014. In any case, the MOD cannot unilaterally amend the eligibility criteria for the medal, and any recommendation in this respect would be subject to endorsement by the Committee on the Grant of Decorations, Honours and Medals, and approval by His Majesty The King.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for the completion of the review of medical entry standards; and what interim (a) guidance and (b) appeal mechanisms are available to applicants to the armed forces with well-managed asthma.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence is committed to a diverse workforce, seeking to ‘select in’ rather than ‘select out’ and is focused on work to review the current policies for Armed Forces recruiting.
An update to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets out the medical entry standards for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff, and the recruiting agencies.
The updated JSP 950 Leaflet 6-7-7 is now in use and in the case of asthma confirms candidates may now be able to join the Armed Forces providing they meet certain criteria. Defence Medical Services continue to monitor and consider all emerging medical evidence to inform medical entry standards.
There is an executive waiver process where the employing Service may, exceptionally, recruit someone who is below the normal medical entry standards. This may include individuals with unique specialist skills that outweigh any functional limitations they might have.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to process access for records requests from veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has experienced a substantial rise in Subject Access Requests, which has put significant pressure on our ability to deliver within the legislative timescales. However, I have already asked the Department to take steps to improve our ability to respond within the necessary timeframes. The MOD’s Data Protection Team have made the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) aware of the situation, which is being experienced across all Services.
Where an individual is seeking information about themselves, known as a SAR, the MOD adheres to guidance issued by the ICO. This stipulates that a public authority must supply the information within one month, but can take up to 90 days for complex cases. Further information can be found at the following link: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/time-limits-for-responding-to-data-protection-rights-requests
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken for LGBT Dismissed or Discharged Payments to be (a) processed and (b) distributed.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved; we envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are completed
Defence fully recognises the importance of delivering LGBT Dismissed or Discharged Payments in a timely manner and is taking specific steps to reduce the time taken for both processing and distribution. Clear guidance has been published to help applicants understand the process, and we appreciate their patience as we work to deliver this important recognition fairly and responsibly.
To reduce processing times, we are working to streamline and automate administrative processes where possible. We are also improving coordination across Defence to retrieve supporting evidence more efficiently, ensuring applications are reviewed thoroughly but without unnecessary delays. While processing times vary depending on the complexity of cases and the evidence required, we are committed to handling applications as quickly as possible. To speed up distribution, the Department is reviewing payment systems to ensure that once applications are approved, payments are issued promptly and efficiently.
Asked by: Gideon Amos (Liberal Democrat - Taunton and Wellington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the number of sitting days of the Independent Panel to Access Impact Payments.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government recognises the importance of timeliness in delivering this important recognition. The Independent Panel convened for its first sitting within days of their appointment on 13 May 2025, demonstrating the Government's commitment to delivering the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) at pace. Further sittings are taking place in June, with several more scheduled in the coming months.
We expect to increase the frequency of sittings, up to two per week and will continue to monitor progress, assessing whether further increases would provide benefits without compromising the integrity of the process. Increasing the number of sitting days may expedite the processing of applications but must be balanced with ensuring the process remains thorough and robust. Evidence gathering is the longest and most complex part of the process, requiring information to be collected from a variety of sources, including historical records. This work must be conducted carefully to ensure fairness for applicants and the responsible management of public funds.
As of 9 June 2025, the FRS had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved; we envisage the FRS speeding up once these are completed.