Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a comparative estimate of the percentage of PTSD claims submitted under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme process that have been delayed for (a) more than one year, (b) more than two years, (c) more than three years, (d) more than four years, (e) more than five years, compared to other physical and mental health claims submitted under that scheme.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
All Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims are subject to an Average Clearance Time (ACT) target of 90 days. However, there is no specified time in which AFCS claims must be cleared. This is important because the prognosis over an individual’s injury may not be certain within that 90 day period. To ensure we do the right thing, time may be required to understand the full extent of the injury and its effect so we can achieve the best possible outcome for the individual. As a consequence, it is not possible to determine the percentage of claims that have been delayed.
The data in this response instead presents, for all AFCS claims cleared between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2022, the number and proportion of (a) mental health awards in which PTSD was cited by the claimant, (b) mental health awards where PTSD was not cited by the claimant, and (c) all other awards by number of years between MOD receiving the claim and the claim outcome being determined is attached at (Table 1).
Please note that whilst it is possible to determine AFCS awards for mental disorders from the electronic information, it is not possible to reliably determine awards for PTSD specifically. Awards where PTSD has been cited by the claimant have been identified based on a free text search of the condition claimed for using the following terms: ‘PTSD’, ‘post traumatic stress’ and ‘post-traumatic stress’. The condition claimed for is based on information supplied by the claimant and does not necessarily reflect a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, awards made under the mental disorders table to those that claimed for PTSD may have been awarded for a different type of mental illness. Therefore, these figures should be treated with caution.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many PTSD claims under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claims process have been delayed for more than (a) a year, (b) two years, (c) four years, and (d) five years.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
All Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims are subject to an Average Clearance Time (ACT) target of 90 days. However, there is no specified time in which AFCS claims must be cleared. This is important because the prognosis over an individual’s injury may not be certain within that 90 day period. To ensure we do the right thing, time may be required to understand the full extent of the injury and its effect so we can achieve the best possible outcome for the individual. As a consequence, it is not possible to determine the percentage of claims that have been delayed.
The data in this response instead presents, for all AFCS claims cleared between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2022, the number and proportion of (a) mental health awards in which PTSD was cited by the claimant, (b) mental health awards where PTSD was not cited by the claimant, and (c) all other awards by number of years between MOD receiving the claim and the claim outcome being determined is attached at (Table 1).
Please note that whilst it is possible to determine AFCS awards for mental disorders from the electronic information, it is not possible to reliably determine awards for PTSD specifically. Awards where PTSD has been cited by the claimant have been identified based on a free text search of the condition claimed for using the following terms: ‘PTSD’, ‘post traumatic stress’ and ‘post-traumatic stress’. The condition claimed for is based on information supplied by the claimant and does not necessarily reflect a diagnosis of PTSD. Therefore, awards made under the mental disorders table to those that claimed for PTSD may have been awarded for a different type of mental illness. Therefore, these figures should be treated with caution.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of hybrid space warfare on UK infrastructure.
Answered by James Heappey
The Defence Space Strategy, published on 1 February 2022 and available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-space-strategy-operationalising-the-space-domain, contains a recent assessment of the range of threats to space systems.
Responsibility for assessing the impact of disruptions on UK infrastructure, including space-based disruptions, sits with the owners of the infrastructure and the responsible lead Government departments.
Defence feeds into cross-Government risk reporting through the National Security Risk.
Assessment process, led by Cabinet Office, assesses the most serious risks facing the UK and includes impacts on UK infrastructure.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) guidance and (b) policy Veterans UK staff follow on veterans suffering from migraines.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I can confirm that there is no specific guidance or policy which Veterans UK staff follow regarding veterans suffering from migraines as a result of Service.
Claims made in respect of migraines would be considered in the same way as any other claim under either the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or the War Pension Scheme (WPS). AFCS and WPS decisions are evidence-based and, taking account of the risk factors or causes of an injury or illness, decisions on entitlement are made based on whether the injury or illness was caused, or made worse by an individual's service.
Information regarding both schemes and how to contact the veterans' welfare service is also available on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk/about
MOD Veterans UK encourages anyone who wishes to discuss making a claim for a service-related condition under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme or War Pensions Scheme to contact the Veterans UK Helpline on 0808 1914 218.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints have been submitted to Veterans UK in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) per 100,000 veterans residing in the UK.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The total number of formal complaints submitted to the Customer Resolution Team (CRT) is detailed in the below table:
Financial Year | Number of Complaints |
2017-18 | 347 |
2018-19 | 332 |
2019-20 | 341 |
2020-21 | 174 |
2021-22 | 201 |
The total number of veterans residing in the UK is not held as veterans are not tracked once they leave Service. However, it is worth noting that as at 31 March 2021 there were 101,960 War Pensions in payment and 3,975 Guaranteed Income Payments (GIPs) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the debate on War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme Payments, on 28 March 2022, Official Report, c 654-74, whether he has taken steps to establish an independent inquiry into the process for War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation payments.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There are no plans for an inquiry into the process for War Pensions or Armed Forces Compensation payments. The existing process remains effective, fit for purpose, and functioning satisfactorily. Where issues are identified, the Ministry of Defence is committed to addressing these and remedial action is taken swiftly to ensure the process remains as efficient, transparent, and empathic as possible.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints submitted to Veterans UK have been transferred to the (a) Head and (b) Assistant Head of Veterans UK in each year in the last five years.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The total number of complaints submitted to Veterans UK Customer Resolution Team (CRT) for each financial year is detailed in the table below:
Financial Year | Number of Complaints |
2017-18 | 347 |
2018-19 | 332 |
2019-20 | 341 |
2020-21 | 174 |
2021-22 | 201 |
For the financial year 2021-22, a total of 201 complaints were received by the CRT.
119 were resolved at the first stage of the complaint resolution process.
42 were resolved at the second stage by the Head of CRT (previously known as an Assistant Head of Veterans UK).
40 were escalated to the Head of Veterans UK.
A breakdown of data prior to 2021 is not held.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the number of complaints submitted to Veterans UK in each of the last five years, by reason for or topic of complaint.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Although there are no plans to publish the number of complaints made to Veterans UK, the results of the customer satisfaction survey was recently published at; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-veterans-customer-satisfaction-results-2021.
Veterans UK is working hard to improve the quality of its service. Oversight of its performance is maintained through internal governance and customer satisfaction is measured through engagement with external organisations.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of complaints submitted to Veterans UK have been transferred to the Customer Relations Team in each of the last five years.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The total number of formal complaints submitted to Veterans UK for the last five financial years (1 April to 31 March) is detailed in the below table:
Financial Year | Number of Complaints |
2017-18 | 347 |
2018-19 | 332 |
2019-20 | 341 |
2020-21 | 174 |
2021-22 | 201 |
All formal complaints made to Veterans UK are passed to the Customer Resolution Team to investigate and respond accordingly. Any informal complaints made and resolved immediately by case managers are not recorded.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
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 introducing referral to the Independent Case Examiner as a stage in the War Pensions complaints process.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There are no plans for the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) to include the right of referral to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE). WPS decisions carry full rights of appeal to an independent Tribunal and this existing process is effective, fit for purpose, and functioning satisfactorily. The addition of ICE to the process would add an additional step that replicates existing appeals provision which would not enhance, and serve only to delay, the appeals process.