Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the adequacy of support available to LGBT veterans.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

Ministers within the Equalities portfolio regularly engage with their counterparts in other Government Departments on a range of matters.

This is in addition to officials within the Office for Equality and Opportunity working closely with those in the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the differing experiences and needs of women and LGBT+ personnel are reflected across their work, including ex-service personnel and veterans.

For example, women are a crucial part of this Government’s new Veterans’ Strategy with commitments including the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum, and an oral history project. Additionally, last year the Government launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK.

The Government has also been clear that historic treatment of LGBT+ veterans was a moral stain on our nation. The Ministry of Defence has already made substantial progress in delivering the Financial Recognition Scheme for veterans who served under, and were impacted by, the Ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces. Decisions have been made on 78% of cases and over £54.6m paid out. We continue to take a proactive approach to ensure all affected veterans are made aware of the Schemes; working with local councils, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, charities and an external communications specialist.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on improving support for ex-service women.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

Ministers within the Equalities portfolio regularly engage with their counterparts in other Government Departments on a range of matters.

This is in addition to officials within the Office for Equality and Opportunity working closely with those in the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the differing experiences and needs of women and LGBT+ personnel are reflected across their work, including ex-service personnel and veterans.

For example, women are a crucial part of this Government’s new Veterans’ Strategy with commitments including the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum, and an oral history project. Additionally, last year the Government launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK.

The Government has also been clear that historic treatment of LGBT+ veterans was a moral stain on our nation. The Ministry of Defence has already made substantial progress in delivering the Financial Recognition Scheme for veterans who served under, and were impacted by, the Ban on LGBT personnel in the Armed Forces. Decisions have been made on 78% of cases and over £54.6m paid out. We continue to take a proactive approach to ensure all affected veterans are made aware of the Schemes; working with local councils, the NHS, community groups, Veterans’ Commissioners, charities and an external communications specialist.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on ensuring that veterans are not financially disadvantaged as a result of service-related injury and illness in East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ensure that the interaction between Armed Forces compensation schemes and the benefits system is properly understood, and that the needs of veterans are fully considered. The issue has been discussed by MOD and DWP Ministers with the aim of ensuring that all veterans using the benefit system experience fair treatment.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to LGBT veterans in the East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

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

This government is committed to ensuring that all veterans, including LGBT veterans, have easy access to support when and where it is needed. Last year, we launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK. The first phase of VALOUR-Recognised Centres will open shortly and the application process for the second round of funding is ongoing. As it develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences.

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme recognises the hurt caused to those who served under, and suffered from, the Ban between 1967 and 2000. This government increased the budget for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme by 50% up to £75 million, with £50 million issued so far.

The LGBT Restorative Action Team have partnered with the Royal British Legion and Fighting with Pride to provide dedicated support to veterans. We have allocated £90,000 in grants to charities, including Fighting with Pride, to assist veterans with their Financial Recognition Scheme applications. The Department remains committed to providing support and guidance to eligible applicants throughout the application process.

On 27 October 2025, alongside serving personnel and veterans, His Majesty The King attended a dedication event for the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to recognise the experience and contribution of veterans who served under the Ban, as well as to celebrate the diversity of today’s Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to LGBT veterans.

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

This government is committed to ensuring that all veterans, including LGBT veterans, have easy access to support when and where it is needed. Last year, we launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK. The first phase of VALOUR-Recognised Centres will open shortly and the application process for the second round of funding is ongoing. As it develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences.

The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme recognises the hurt caused to those who served under, and suffered from, the Ban between 1967 and 2000. This government increased the budget for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme by 50% up to £75 million, with £50 million issued so far.

The LGBT Restorative Action Team have partnered with the Royal British Legion and Fighting with Pride to provide dedicated support to veterans. We have allocated £90,000 in grants to charities, including Fighting with Pride, to assist veterans with their Financial Recognition Scheme applications. The Department remains committed to providing support and guidance to eligible applicants throughout the application process.

On 27 October 2025, alongside serving personnel and veterans, His Majesty The King attended a dedication event for the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to recognise the experience and contribution of veterans who served under the Ban, as well as to celebrate the diversity of today’s Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help improve support for ex-service women in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

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

Women are a crucial part of the Armed Forces community, both through the value of their service and their contribution to society as veterans. Engaging and supporting the women who have served in our Armed Forces in East Grinstead and Uckfield and across the country, is an important part of our new Veterans Strategy, to ensure they have access to support that understands their in-service experiences, and that any barriers to accessing support are addressed.

Amongst the commitments in the strategy are the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum and an oral history project. The forum will ensure that the voices of women veterans inform how government responds to areas significant to their lives. The oral history project will capture the experiences of women veterans, showcasing their role in defence and their contribution to society after service.

Last year, we launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK. The first phase of VALOUR-Recognised Centres will open shortly and the application process for the second round of funding is ongoing. As it develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences, including women.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help improve support for ex-service women.

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

Women are a crucial part of the Armed Forces community, both through the value of their service and their contribution to society as veterans. Engaging and supporting the women who have served in our Armed Forces in East Grinstead and Uckfield and across the country, is an important part of our new Veterans Strategy, to ensure they have access to support that understands their in-service experiences, and that any barriers to accessing support are addressed.

Amongst the commitments in the strategy are the establishment of a new women veterans’ forum and an oral history project. The forum will ensure that the voices of women veterans inform how government responds to areas significant to their lives. The oral history project will capture the experiences of women veterans, showcasing their role in defence and their contribution to society after service.

Last year, we launched the £50 million VALOUR programme, which will make it easier for all veterans to access the care and support they deserve wherever they live in the UK. The first phase of VALOUR-Recognised Centres will open shortly and the application process for the second round of funding is ongoing. As it develops, we are working hard to ensure that the VALOUR network is inclusive of all veterans’ needs and experiences, including women.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current medical discharge process in ensuring continuity of healthcare and welfare support for medically discharged service personal in the East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 July 2026 to Question 12263 to the hon. Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith).

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-06-23/12263

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what consideration has there been to provide BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace standard available to businesses in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace is a voluntary British Standard published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), the UK's National Standards Body. The standard is available as a free download through BSI's website. As with other voluntary British Standards, decisions on whether and how to adopt the standard are a matter for individual organisations.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what consideration has there been to promote BS 30480 Suicide and the Workplace standard in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens

BS 30480:2025 (Suicide and the Workplace – Intervention, prevention and support for people affected by suicide) is a voluntary British Standard published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in November 2025. It provides guidance for organisations on suicide prevention, intervention, and support in workplace settings.

The BSI is the UK's National Standards Body, recognised by Government through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Business and Trade (DBT). It develops Standards independently through a consensus-based process involving relevant stakeholders and technical experts.

The BS 30480 Standard is guidance rather than a regulatory requirement. Standards can be used by organisations as tools to support good practice, but decisions on adoption and implementation remain with the organisation concerned.

The BSI has undertaken awareness-raising activity in relation to BS 30480 following publication. This included a parliamentary launch event at Speaker's House in November 2025, supported by Baroness Merron, and BSI has also made the standard available free of charge on its website. The standard has been downloaded more than 11,000 times since publication.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS staff absences occur in the NHS due to menopause for what figures are available.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England does not publish official statistics on sickness absence due specifically to menopause because menopause is not recorded as a primary sickness absence reason within the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR) sickness absence statistics.

The ESR does, however, allow menopause to be recorded as a related reason for a sickness absence episode. For March 2026, National Health Service organisations in England recorded 1,764 full-time equivalent days lost where menopause was recorded as a related reason for sickness absence.

The figures should be interpreted with caution, as the menopause-related reason field is recorded locally and is not subject to the same level of validation as the data used in NHS England's official published sickness absence statistics.

Recording depends on local reporting practices, completion of the related reason field and staff disclosure, and is therefore likely to understate the true level of menopause-related sickness absence.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration has been undertaking to adopt British Standard BS 30416 on menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace standard - guide for NHS staff.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the importance of supporting National Health Service staff experiencing menstruation, menstrual health conditions, and menopausal symptoms.

Many principles in British Standard 30416 are already reflected in NHS England guidance, learning resources, and support, which are kept under review in light of emerging evidence, stakeholder feedback, and good practice.

NHS England has signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge, reflecting its commitment to support employees experiencing menopause.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the creation of jobs for young people in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

DBT is supporting the creation of well-paid jobs in East Grimsby by supporting businesses to start, scale, export and attract investment, leading to higher-skilled roles.

The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority utilising new devolved funding helps local businesses invest in growth and infrastructure, exploiting major assets such as the Humber Freeport and offshore wind cluster.

By developing high-value sectors, strengthening skills and supporting local regeneration, it ensures higher productivity and better-paid employment for residents.

The Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub offers SMEs specialist advice on scaling up, accessing new markets and alternative funding options through the British Business Bank.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on tertiary education finances in Wales.

Answered by Jo Stevens

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of topics including how UK Government policy interacts with educational institutions in Wales.

Education is devolved in Wales and so is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. The UK Government is providing the Welsh Government with nearly £6.5bn in additional spending power over the Spending Review as a result of changes to the fiscal framework, additional funding through Barnett and the largest settlement in the history of devolution.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS staff are on long term sickness absence due to menopause.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department does not hold data on National Health Service staff long-term sickness absence due to menopause.

While menopause may be recorded locally as a contributing factor to an absence episode, the information is not collected in a way that enables the production of reliable national figures for long-term sickness absence attributable to menopause.

Found: on the proposed ban on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) 30 June Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP Mims Davies

Found: Written evidence submitted by Mims Davies MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales (FPW0006) I’m writing

Found: Stride MP from 25 October 2022 Left 5 July 2024 – – – – – 17,784 67,505 16,876 4,000 39,000 Mims Davies

Found: Stride MP from 25 October 2022 Left 5 July 2024 – – – – – 17,784 67,505 16,876 4,000 39,000 Mims Davies