Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence delivers a range of services to Veterans and their families. This includes the administration and payment of Armed Forces pensions and compensation, the provision of tailored advice and assistance through the Veterans Welfare Service, Defence Transition Services and the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans.
Andrew Murrison: Between 2016 and 2023, 706 seafarers were trained by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), and there are no RFA seafarers currently serving on Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Andrew Murrison: The Royal Navy does not routinely disclose the trained strength of individual branches or specialisms as to do so could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of the Armed Forces.
Andrew Murrison: RFA FORT VICTORIA normally operates with 101 RFA personnel. However, this will vary according to operational requirements and tasking.
Andrew Murrison: Court Martial results from the Military Court Service are available back to 2010 in a searchable format at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-martial-res ults-from-the-military-court-centres. Information includes rank, service, final legal charges, finding and overall sentence. However, the particulars of the offence are not included. The detailed...
Andrew Murrison: Those serving in the Armed Forces are accountable to Ministers and should not therefore contact Members of Parliament regarding Defence business. They may however contact their Member of Parliament about personal matters affecting them directly, including their lived experience during their service. This includes issues related to: recruitment and training; terms and conditions of service;...
Andrew Murrison: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 12925 on 8 February 2024. Gurkhas: Veterans (docx, 15.0KB)
Andrew Murrison: The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) is an independent charity that works closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its focus is on the Gurkha welfare pensioners who need the most assistance. Minsters from the MOD have met with the GWT twice since 2019. The Minister for Defence People and Families met with the GWT Chairman and others in Nepal in January 2023 where he saw for himself the excellent...
Andrew Murrison: The Bilateral Gurkha Veteran Welfare Committee, which is jointly chaired by the Minister for Defence People and Families and His Excellency, The Ambassador of Nepal, met on the following dates: 3 November 2022, 19 April 2023, and the 22 November 2023. The next Bilateral Gurkha Veteran Welfare Committee is due to take place 27 March 2024. In order to facilitate in depth technical discussion...
Andrew Murrison: The Armed Forces recruit nationally and do not operate a specific policy of increasing recruitment from particular geographic areas. Armed Forces Career Offices are spread across the UK, including in Northern Ireland, and continue to provide core support to the Armed Forces’ national recruiting activities. The geographic footprint of Armed Forces Career Offices across the UK is complemented...
Andrew Murrison: The new digital application and verification service for all pre-2018 service leavers went live at 00:01 on Sunday 28 January 2024. Alongside the launch, a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the HM Armed Forces Veteran recognition card's availability has been conducted covering social media, GOV.UK, Defence HQ and MOD-specific sites, Ministerial statements and the Sunday Express. ...
Andrew Murrison: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
Andrew Murrison: The specific information requested is commercial in confidence so cannot be provided at this time.
Andrew Murrison: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Andrew Murrison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 12239 on 7 February 2024. LGBT Veterans Independent Review (docx, 15.3KB)
Andrew Murrison: Local Government Elections Regular and Reserve Serving personnel may not accept membership of any local authority or allow themselves to be nominated for election to any such body, without the permission of Defence. National Elections Regular Armed Forces personnel and members of the Reserve Forces when serving on a full-time service commitment must apply for permission to retire...
Andrew Murrison: The welfare of our personnel is of the utmost importance and all 52 of the recommendations in this report have been accepted and assigned an appropriate Owner within the Department. The Owner will, when appropriate, submit their evidence to the Defence Safety Authority, where the Director General will consider closing the outstanding action.
Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) highly values the Service of all members of the Armed Forces, including the Gurkhas who have a long and distinguished history of service to the UK, both at home and overseas. The issues raised by members of the Gurkha veteran community are historical and complex. The MOD takes its responsibilities to our Gurkha veterans very seriously. We continue to welcome...
Andrew Murrison: There are no plans to change Ministry of Defence policy which is consistent with wider UK practice across the medical profession. There is an ethical obligation to respect a patient’s confidentiality after death and access to deceased patients’ health records, including for Armed Forces personnel, is governed by the Access to Health Records Act 1990. Under the terms of the Act, someone...
Andrew Murrison: As at 31 January 2024, the Army has 13 people employed in roles dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion.