Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) transparency and (b) communication in cases of alleged armed forces pension overpayments.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Armed Forces pension overpayments can occur for various reasons, most commonly following the death of a pension recipient.

When an overpayment is identified, the payment agent, Equiniti, will initially inform the pension recipient or their next of kin about the overpayment and outline the available recovery options.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has established a robust process for managing overpayments, which includes providing advice and welfare support. If repaying the debt poses financial difficulties, recipients are encouraged to contact the debt recovery team. In certain cases, following an individual assessment, the debt may be partially written off, or an affordable repayment plan can be arranged.

Members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) have the right to raise a complaint through the Internal Disputes Resolution Procedure (IDRP) if they disagree with any decision or action taken by the scheme administrator. This single-stage process reviews all aspects of the complaint, including any additional evidence or information provided. Individuals wishing to challenge overpayment recovery decisions can do so by contacting the AFPS.

The MOD works closely with the payment agent to review and improve communication regarding overpayment issues, incorporating lessons learned to enhance the process.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the symptom lists used in disability and capability assessments for people with fibromyalgia; and whether his Department plans to update that guidance.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) are functional assessments. They do not evaluate claimants based on their medical diagnosis or health condition alone and claimants are not assessed against a set symptom list for a condition when attending an assessment. Instead, the assessment focuses on how a claimant’s condition affects their mobility and ability to carry out everyday activities.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to ensuring that individuals with Fibromyalgia and other health conditions receive high-quality, accurate assessments. All health professionals (HPs) undergo comprehensive training in disability analysis. Their focus is on understanding the functional impact of a claimant’s condition, rather than its clinical diagnosis.

To support this, DWP provides suppliers with core training and guidance materials on Fibromyalgia. These resources include detailed clinical and functional information relevant to the condition to assist HPs in delivering informed and accurate assessments.

Additionally, all training and guidance materials are currently undergoing a comprehensive review and update. A dedicated team is leading this work to ensure that all materials are aligned with national best practice standards. Independent clinical experts are being engaged to provide external quality assurance, helping to ensure the content remains accurate, relevant, and consistent.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure complaints in his Department exceeded the required 50-working-day timeframe for issuing an outcome in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Between 1 January and 31 October 2025, a total of 86 Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP) complaints were processed. Of these, 71 (83%) were resolved within the 50-working-day timeframe, while 15 (17%) exceeded this timeframe.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to publish a national strategy for palliative and end of life care.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

Additionally, we are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.

We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. I am pleased to confirm the continuation of circa £26 million, adjusted for inflation, for the next three financial years, 2026/27 to 2028/29 inclusive, to be distributed again via integrated care boards. This amounts to approximately £80 million over the next three years.

Bank closures, digital exclusion and cyber risks

Gambling executives' profits

Fly-tipping and illegal waste dumping by criminal gangs

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

President Trump’s 20-point peace plan

Found: present: Emily Thornberry (Chair); Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell; Dan Carden; Richard Foord

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell; Richard Foord; Abtisam

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell; Richard Foord; Abtisam

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell; Richard Foord; Abtisam