Benefit Entitlements: War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation

Jonathan Brash Excerpts

Wednesday 14th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool) (Lab)]

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman giving way, and the assiduous way in which he has gone about campaigning on this issue throughout his time in this place—it is to his enormous credit. In November 2023, when I was just a local councillor, I moved a motion so that in Hartlepool, all locally administered benefits would have military compensation disregarded. I am really proud that that is now the case in Hartlepool, but many councils across the country are not doing the same. In addition to the demands for national action that the hon. Gentleman is making of the Minister—which I support—is it not also incumbent on our local councils to do the exact same thing in order to honour our veterans who receive military compensation?

[Josh Babarinde]

There are so many who need to act here. It is not just a Department for Work and Pensions issue; it is a local authority issue as well. The Royal British Legion has a very helpful map that Members can access to find their local authority and identify which locally administered benefits are disregarded.