Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of inspections of NHS hospitals by the Care Quality Commission were (a) announced and (b) unannounced in each of the last three years.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) current assessment methodology, not every assessment of a National Health Service hospital involves a site visit.

The following table provides the number and proportion of announced and unannounced NHS hospital site visits, rather than assessments, recorded by the CQC in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to date:

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her department spent on contingent or contracted labour in each year since 2024.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

This information is publicly available in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26.

The requested figures can be found in the Remuneration Report under spend on contract and agency staff wages and salaries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the business rates multiplier on warehouses and logistics infrastructure on inflation since April 2026.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government has introduced a higher rate on the most valuable properties, which includes large distribution warehouses such as those used by online giants, to sustainably fund a tax cut for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with RVs below £500,000, which make up the backbone of England's high streets.

The OBR is responsible for forecasting the impact of Government policy decisions on inflation. The OBR has not published a specific estimate of the impact of the business rates multiplier on warehouses and logistics infrastructure on inflation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 1 September 2026 on Direction of Government, Official Report, column 68, what progress her Department has made on convening a rail summit.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Improving rail performance remains a key priority for the Government, and the Department continues to work with rail partners and the Prime Minister's Office to drive improvements for passengers. Further details on the rail summit announced by the Prime Minister will be provided in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, further to the Public Interest Intervention Notice issued on 5 October 2026, whether she has had discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on potential structural remedies, including the separation or divestment of PlatformX Communications and TalkTalk’s consumer business in the event that competition concerns are identified.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

An open bidding process for TalkTalk resulted in no deal being reached. Following that process, BT agreed to buy the business out of administration. This was a commercial transaction in which the Government was not involved.

The Secretary of State issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN), to enable consideration of public interest issues alongside any competition concerns the CMA may raise in their Report. See the PIIN for further detail.

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the process, it would not be appropriate to comment further while it is ongoing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Public Interest Intervention Notice she issued on 5 October, if she will make an assessment of whether the time for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate and report was adequate.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

An open bidding process for TalkTalk resulted in no deal being reached. Following that process, BT agreed to buy the business out of administration. This was a commercial transaction in which the Government was not involved.

The Secretary of State issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN), to enable consideration of public interest issues alongside any competition concerns the CMA may raise in their Report. See the PIIN for further detail.

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the process, it would not be appropriate to comment further while it is ongoing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Public Interest Intervention Notice she issued on 5 October 2026, what alternative options to ensure continuity of service for customers were considered.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

An open bidding process for TalkTalk resulted in no deal being reached. Following that process, BT agreed to buy the business out of administration. This was a commercial transaction in which the Government was not involved.

The Secretary of State issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN), to enable consideration of public interest issues alongside any competition concerns the CMA may raise in their Report. See the PIIN for further detail.

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the process, it would not be appropriate to comment further while it is ongoing.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Chief Executive of HMRC plans to respond to the urgent correspondence from the hon. member for North West Norfolk sent on the 8 September 2026 under case ref JW45776.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

HMRC issued a reply on 25 September 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what percentage increase in dental training places is planned for each year of this Parliament.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 March in response to Question 117934.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes in the levels of fuel duty on (a) logistics business costs and (b) inflation in 2027.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The Government recognises pressures from fuel price increases linked to the Middle East conflict. As announced in May, as part of a £600 million package, there will be no rise in fuel duty this year and the temporary 5p fuel duty cut has been extended until 31 December 2026. Hauliers will benefit from the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut, with diesel 11p per litre cheaper throughout 2026 than it would have been compared to plans inherited from the previous parliament. This action is in addition to targeted support through a holiday from HGV VED (road tax) for 12 months from 1 July 2026 for the majority of HGVs.

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at discal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will list for each regional Project Gigabit contract agreed the (i) value (ii) date signed (iii) the number of premises to be connected and deadline for completion of rollout and (iv) number of premises connected to date.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Building Digital UK (BDUK) publishes monthly contract-level data on the progress of its Project Gigabit contracts. The latest data release accounts for information held by BDUK as of 17 August and is available here: August 2026: Premises contracted and built under Project Gigabit contracts - GOV.UK. This data shows the number of premises contracted and built so far for each Project Gigabit contract, whilst all Project Gigabit contracts are scheduled to complete delivery by 2032 or earlier.

Further summary information on each Project Gigabit contract is published here: Project Gigabit contracts - GOV.UK. This shows the value and the signature date of each Project Gigabit contract.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential effectiveness of the commercial rollout in filling remaining coverage gaps once the Shared Rural Network programme ends in January 2027.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom reports on mobile network coverage across the UK, and whilst the Shared Rural Network (SRN) has successfully delivered its objective of 95% 4G coverage across the UK landmass by the end of 2025, some gaps will remain.

Currently, over 96% of the UK landmass has 4G coverage from at least one operator. For any remaining areas, we continue to consider the best approach including the development and deployment of satellite Direct to Device mobile services which, while currently only providing basic services, have the potential to provide a mobile service in areas where it is not possible to deliver terrestrial coverage.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the latest estimated percentage is of premises with access to gigabit-capable broadband, and how this compares with the Government’s 99% by 2032 target under Project Gigabit.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, including via Project Gigabit, the Government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032.

According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring 2026 report, as of January 2026, 88% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria the Government is using to define a “trustworthy news provider” in the Media Green Paper’s proposals on news prominence on social media platforms.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

As set out in the Media Green Paper ‘Watch this Space’, the Government is exploring options to require social media platforms, as well as potentially video sharing platforms, to ensure trusted news content is prominent and discoverable within user interfaces. This will ensure people can access high-quality, trustworthy journalism which is essential to our democracy and to countering the prevalence of mis and disinformation.

The Government has not yet determined what criteria may be used to define a trustworthy news provider. The Department will continue engaging stakeholders, assessing evidence and analysing responses as part of the Green Paper consultation to inform the design of a news prominence regime. A starting point for any criteria may be the recognised news publisher definition in the Online Safety Act 2023, although no decisions have been made. Any approach will protect freedom of expression, media freedom and editorial independence.

With regard to representations from, and engagement with, international counterparts, the Department has engaged with international partners in order to understand their perspectives and learn from international best practice.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Media Act 2024.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The effective implementation of the Media Act 2024 remains a priority for both the Department and Ofcom, who share responsibility for overall implementation.

We have now fully implemented the provisions of the Act which modernises the public service broadcasting framework and listed events regime, and those provisions which relate to updates regarding S4C and Channel 4.

We are now seeking to complete implementation of the remaining parts of the Act, which relate to the new regulatory regimes, as swiftly as possible. The Act delegates certain powers to the Secretary of State to designate in-scope services, which she has now delivered for the new prominence and video-on-demand regimes.

Under the Act Ofcom also has responsibility for developing relevant Codes and guidance which must be completed before commencement. DCMS and Ofcom continue to engage regularly to monitor delivery.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has received representations from international counterparts on the Media Green Paper’s proposal to require social media platforms to make news content from public service media and “trustworthy” news providers more prominent.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

As set out in the Media Green Paper ‘Watch this Space’, the Government is exploring options to require social media platforms, as well as potentially video sharing platforms, to ensure trusted news content is prominent and discoverable within user interfaces. This will ensure people can access high-quality, trustworthy journalism which is essential to our democracy and to countering the prevalence of mis and disinformation.

The Government has not yet determined what criteria may be used to define a trustworthy news provider. The Department will continue engaging stakeholders, assessing evidence and analysing responses as part of the Green Paper consultation to inform the design of a news prominence regime. A starting point for any criteria may be the recognised news publisher definition in the Online Safety Act 2023, although no decisions have been made. Any approach will protect freedom of expression, media freedom and editorial independence.

With regard to representations from, and engagement with, international counterparts, the Department has engaged with international partners in order to understand their perspectives and learn from international best practice.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of state involvement in determining which news providers are “trustworthy” on editorial independence and press freedom.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

As set out in the Media Green Paper ‘Watch this Space’, the Government is exploring options to require social media platforms, as well as potentially video sharing platforms, to ensure trusted news content is prominent and discoverable within user interfaces. This will ensure people can access high-quality, trustworthy journalism which is essential to our democracy and to countering the prevalence of mis and disinformation.

The Government has not yet determined what criteria may be used to define a trustworthy news provider. The Department will continue engaging stakeholders, assessing evidence and analysing responses as part of the Green Paper consultation to inform the design of a news prominence regime. A starting point for any criteria may be the recognised news publisher definition in the Online Safety Act 2023, although no decisions have been made. Any approach will protect freedom of expression, media freedom and editorial independence.

With regard to representations from, and engagement with, international counterparts, the Department has engaged with international partners in order to understand their perspectives and learn from international best practice.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of a 2034 Digital Terrestrial Television switch-off on older and disabled viewers and people living in rural areas.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Our core principle is that no one should be left behind. Any future transition would only proceed with the right safeguards, infrastructure and support in place, particularly for older people, people with disabilities, low-income households, rural communities and those with lower digital confidence. The Government expects industry, broadcasters, telecoms providers and consumer groups to work together to deliver a comprehensive support package to help audiences transition smoothly and confidently. The Media Green Paper, published in June, is designed to test the evidence and understand where support may be needed. We are currently analysing the results of the consultation, and will set the next steps in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what public information activity is expected ahead of a Digital Terrestrial Television switch-off decision.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Our core principle is that no one should be left behind. Any future transition would only proceed with the right safeguards, infrastructure and support in place, particularly for older people, people with disabilities, low-income households, rural communities and those with lower digital confidence. The Government expects industry, broadcasters, telecoms providers and consumer groups to work together to deliver a comprehensive support package to help audiences transition smoothly and confidently. The Media Green Paper, published in June, is designed to test the evidence and understand where support may be needed. We are currently analysing the results of the consultation, and will set the next steps in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what conditions must be met before a Digital Terrestrial Television switch-off in 2034 can proceed.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Our core principle is that no one should be left behind. Any future transition would only proceed with the right safeguards, infrastructure and support in place, particularly for older people, people with disabilities, low-income households, rural communities and those with lower digital confidence. The Government expects industry, broadcasters, telecoms providers and consumer groups to work together to deliver a comprehensive support package to help audiences transition smoothly and confidently. The Media Green Paper, published in June, is designed to test the evidence and understand where support may be needed. We are currently analysing the results of the consultation, and will set the next steps in due course.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to set out further details on funding for lidos.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to swimming facilities, including lidos, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and play an important role within communities.

We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, and will set out further details shortly.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for North West Norfolk sent on the 1 September 2026 under case ref JW46075.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A response was sent on 30th September.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for War Pension Scheme claims are from people who are (i) terminally ill or (ii) over 90 years old.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (i) shortest (i) average and (ii) maximum processing time is for War Pension Scheme claims.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of War Pension Scheme claims are processed within six months.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many War Pension Scheme claims are being considered.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Department is taking to ensure War Pension Scheme claims are processed in a timely manner.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors affect the time taken to process War Pension Scheme claims.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Detailed statistics on the recipients of war pensions, new claims, awards and appeals made under the WPS are published at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2026

In keeping with Accredited Official Statistic Reports methodology, minimum and maximum clearance times are not reported in the WPS Official Statistics, and are therefore not held in a form suitable for publication. The median clearance time for War Pension Scheme (WPS) first claims in the 2025/26 financial year was 361 working days.

As at 12 October 2026, there are currently 13,274 WPS claims on hand. This figure includes first and subsequent claims, supplementary allowances, treatment allowances and widows’ claims.

The following table shows WPS clearances for the previous twelve months, as at 12 October 2026.

The time taken to process WPS claims is influenced by multiple internal and external factors related to claim complexity, evidence requirements, medical review, and operational challenges. Claims vary considerably in complexity; straightforward cases are processed more quickly, while claims for complex or multiple medical conditions require detailed investigation to establish causation, aggravation or impact and can take considerably longer. The availability and quality of supporting evidence such as service records, GP and hospital records, claimant submissions and other documentation also affect processing times, with delays often arising from the time taken to obtain records from multiple civilian sources. As there is no time limit for making a WPS claim, older claims can be particularly challenging due to difficulties in locating historic records and establishing service causation.

All WPS claims are subject to medical review, and Medical Advisors (MAs) play a critical role in reviewing claims once evidence is gathered, assessing causation under legislation.

When circumstances are unusual or not clearly covered by existing guidance, cases can require additional policy consideration, which can further delay decisions. Additionally, claims spanning both the WPS and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) undergo sequential consideration across expert casework teams, lengthening the overall process.

Operational factors impacting processing include staffing levels, competing workloads, the introduction of new IT systems, system issues, training requirements, and changes to established processes. These have temporarily reduced processing capacity and contributed to backlogs while new ways of working are embedded. The MOD is also currently managing a high volume of WPS claims, which has resulted in longer clearance times.

To address these challenges, a range of measures have been introduced to improve WPS claim processing times. These include flexible resource management, allowing teams to reallocate staff as needed and training personnel in multiple skillsets to enhance efficiency and resilience.

To accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims, overtime and weekend working have been implemented alongside the additional recruitment of administrative and caseworker staff.

Furthermore, a dedicated taskforce has been established to support service delivery improvements. This taskforce focuses on stabilising the system, monitoring operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Throughout the claims process, all cases are managed in strict date order at every stage to ensure fairness, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

Claims from individuals who are either terminally ill or over 90 years old are recorded as a single Priority category and not separately held. The following table shows the number of either terminally ill or over 90 years old Priority applications received in the past 12 months, as at 12 October 2026.