Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to protect veterans accused of historic allegations relating to service in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to undertake a public consultation on legal protections measures for personnel deployed on operations overseas, including a statutory presumption against prosecution of current or former personnel for alleged offences committed in the course of duty abroad more than 10 years previously. Prosecutions in such circumstances would not be considered to be in the public interest, except in “exceptional circumstances”. The presumption measure would not apply to historical alleged offences in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Defence will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Secretary on the proposals for addressing Northern Ireland legacy issues. The MOD provides veterans, including those who served in Northern Ireland, who are subject to investigation and potential prosecution with legal, welfare and pastoral support.
Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether her Department plans to introduce new protections to safeguard veterans from prosecution in relation to historic killings.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to undertake a public consultation on legal protections measures for personnel deployed on operations overseas, including a statutory presumption against prosecution of current or former personnel for alleged offences committed in the course of duty abroad more than 10 years previously. Prosecutions in such circumstances would not be considered to be in the public interest, except in “exceptional circumstances”. The presumption measure would not apply to historical alleged offences in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Defence will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Secretary on the proposals for addressing Northern Ireland legacy issues. The MOD provides veterans, including those who served in Northern Ireland, who are subject to investigation and potential prosecution with legal, welfare and pastoral support.
Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if her Department will introduce a statute of limitations covering potential offences committed by veterans.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to undertake a public consultation on legal protections measures for personnel deployed on operations overseas, including a statutory presumption against prosecution of current or former personnel for alleged offences committed in the course of duty abroad more than 10 years previously. Prosecutions in such circumstances would not be considered to be in the public interest, except in “exceptional circumstances”. The presumption measure would not apply to historical alleged offences in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Defence will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Secretary on the proposals for addressing Northern Ireland legacy issues. The MOD provides veterans, including those who served in Northern Ireland, who are subject to investigation and potential prosecution with legal, welfare and pastoral support.
Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the pastoral support provided to veterans subject to historic investigations.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Within the Army's Personnel Services Group (APSG), the Operational Legacy team coordinates welfare and pastoral support to Army veterans and serving personnel who are subject to historical investigations. APSG has drawn together all stakeholders (Including those in the Ministry of Defence, the appropriate Regimental Headquarters and Associations, the Confederation of Service Charities and 'ABF - The Soldiers' Charity') to ensure coherent pastoral support to veterans, under the primacy of the MOD's Veterans UK. This is incorporated into the recently announced UK-Wide Veterans' Strategy and is supported by £10 million of funding overall. I am confident that this demonstrates that the Department has a clear strategy and is meeting its obligations to veterans subject to historical investigations, whilst also protecting the Army's reputation for future generations of soldiers.
Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if her Department will ensure that all veterans who are under investigation in relation to historic cases in Northern Ireland are made aware of her Department's welfare and pastoral support.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
It is a very high priority for Defence to ensure that all personnel involved in Northern Ireland Legacy matters are offered, free, appropriate legal and pastoral support, taking account of individual circumstances, including health and wellbeing. For both inquests and criminal investigations, we contact every veteran as soon as we have been made aware of their potential involvement. This contact will signpost points of contact within the Ministry itself, (including the MOD's 'Veterans UK'); the Army, including the Army Personnel Services Group and Regimental Associations or equivalent organisations and relevant charities and third sector bodies. In addition, MOD officials are in frequent contact with veterans' organisations and other interested bodies and make every effort to publicise this support through appropriate channels, to ensure that the wider veterans' community has a channel through which they can contact the Department if appropriate. We also have appropriate points of contact so that those of whom we are not initially aware, can initiate contact with the right people.
Asked by: Marcus Jones (Conservative - Nuneaton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to introduce a post-nominal decoration for long service in the Reserve Forces.
Answered by Michael Fallon
I am pleased to announce that Reservists who complete 10 years service will be rewarded for their commitment with the introduction of a new post-nominal "Volunteer Reserve", to be indicated by the letters (VR). The post nominal will be for all members of the Reserves, regardless of rank or service, and will be backdated to 1999.
In addition, subject to agreement from Her Majesty The Queen, the Ministry of Defence plans to introduce a new Long Service Medal for Regular personnel of all ranks which would be awarded after 15 years service.