Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the conclusions of the LGBT veterans independent review, chaired by Lord Etherton.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 June 2023 to question 190453 to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr Morgan).
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on bringing forward a replacement to the Forces Help to Buy scheme after its end date of 31 December 2022.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme was set up in 2014 to provide Service personnel with the opportunity to purchase a property for immediate occupation, creating a stable environment regardless of assignment and reducing the challenge presented by an inherently mobile career.
The Ministry of Defence recognises that FHTB continues to be a popular scheme, helping more than 27,500 Service personnel to buy or extend a home. Whilst the pilot of the policy is currently due to end in December 2022, we are considering options for the future of the scheme and will update personnel and their families once decisions have been made.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to extend the Forces Help to Buy scheme beyond 31 December 2022.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme was set up in 2014 to provide Service personnel with the opportunity to purchase a property for immediate occupation, creating a stable environment regardless of assignment and reducing the challenge presented by an inherently mobile career.
The Ministry of Defence recognises that FHTB continues to be a popular scheme, helping more than 27,500 Service personnel to buy or extend a home. Whilst the pilot of the policy is currently due to end in December 2022, we are considering options for the future of the scheme and will update personnel and their families once decisions have been made.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help Commonwealth veterans immigrate to the UK upon discharge.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
The Government highly values the service of all members of the Armed Forces, including Commonwealth nationals and Gurkhas from Nepal. As part of specific Home Office immigration rules for the Armed Forces and their families, Commonwealth and Gurkha Service personnel who have served for at least four years on discharge are able to apply to settle in the UK. We do, however, recognise that settlement fees place a financial burden on Service personnel wishing to settle in the UK after service, and we are working with the Home Office to consider how we can offer greater flexibility for these individuals in future.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on the upper age limit for applicants to that Academy during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by James Heappey
Candidates seeking a commission in the Regular Army should generally be over 17 years and 9 months and under 30 years on entry to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Anyone over 30 is considered on a case by case basis and age waivers can be supported. Officer recruitment is very healthy with the supply of high-quality candidates consistently meeting the demand for places. Places are filled well in advance of the intake date and due to the unique accommodation arrangements at the Academy social distancing measures are less complex to implement, meaning it continues to operate at full capacity. Covid 19 restrictions have not affected the application inflow and there has been no discussion regarding the upper age limit for applicants to the Academy during the covid-19 outbreak.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will assist in the awarding of a posthumous medal for the bravery shown by William McMullen in 1945.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
I pay tribute to the bravery of Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Officer William McMullen in ensuring that his aircraft did not crash onto a built-up area; and to all others who sacrificed themselves in similar circumstances.
However, no matter what the circumstances it is considered that those who had full access to the facts of the case contemporaneously were best placed to make judgements regarding medallic recognition.