Topical Questions 2025-09-08
2025-09-08
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Veterans in Beverley and Holderness have raised concerns about homelessness, an issue the Minister for Veterans and People is aware of.
When I meet veterans across Beverley and Holderness, particularly at Withernsea or Beverley veterans breakfast clubs, the No. 1 issue they raise with me is homelessness among veterans—an issue that the Minister for Veterans and People will recognise. They ask what more we can do, and I share that question with the Secretary of State: what more can we do to ensure that those who have put their lives on the line to serve our country do not find themselves homeless in their later days?
I share with the right hon. Gentleman, and, I think, every Member of this House, the pleasure and honour of attending such breakfast clubs with veterans in my constituency. He is right about the range of concerns that veterans raise, which includes the pressures of homelessness. Recognising the forces’ service in local authority housing priorities is our first step, and the £50 million going into the Op VALOUR system to increase support for veterans will also play a part.
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Q2
Partial Answer
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The Secretary of State for Defence signed a £10 billion warship deal with Norway, which is expected to secure jobs in Glasgow shipyards.
The £10 billion contract with Norway will help to guarantee shipbuilding on the Clyde for many decades to come. Will the Minister join me in congratulating the workers at the shipyard in Glasgow, and will he assure me that the Government intend to everything they can to promote Glaswegian shipbuilding around the world?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and thank the workers on the Clyde for their professionalism. It made the collective ministerial effort across Government much easier knowing that we have professional, dedicated and excellent workers on the Clyde who are able to build the Type 26 frigate, and on the opposite side of Scotland, supporting the workers at Rosyth, to build the Type 31 frigate, too. There is a huge future on either side of Scotland for British shipbuilding, and hopefully more export orders as well.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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A resident's son, a former armed services personnel, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlighting the need for better support.
My question is a bit like the buses this morning. I spend a lot of time knocking on doors and talking to residents in my constituency. A couple of weeks ago, one resident spoke with anguish about the challenges that his son, who is former armed services personnel, faces in suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I have met the Veterans Minister to discuss this on a number of occasions, but can I ask him once again to emphasise the importance that this Government put on supporting veterans who have PTSD? This links in with work that I did in a previous role, in which I supported veterans out of homelessness—
This Government take seriously both physical and mental injuries from service. Op Courage has already seen 34,000 referrals. It is a fantastic programme that runs across the country and provides mental health services for veterans. I encourage any veteran who thinks that they need help to shout and seek help. It is the first step to recovery.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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A constituent, former senior aircraftsman Mark Shephard, was dismissed from the RAF without a discharge or dismissal payment despite being accepted for an impact payment.
My constituent, former senior aircraftsman Mark Shephard, was subjected to discriminatory dismissal from the RAF, denying him his whole future career in the RAF. Could the Minister explain why he has been accepted for an impact payment, but denied a discharge and dismissal payment, with no explanation? Will the Minister review the whole DDP, so that it honours veterans?
If the hon. Member writes to me with the details of that case, I will look into it. There is a plethora of issues and complexities with some of these policies, but I will take this case on and have a look.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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The Minister announced a defence industrial strategy, which includes investment in shipbuilding on the Clyde and the Forth.
We have highlighted the welcome investment in shipbuilding on the Clyde and the Forth, demonstrating the real benefit of being part of the Union. What assessment has the Minister made of other potential export deals? What steps is he taking to ensure that the Ministry of Defence takes up those opportunities?
The Type 26 deal with Norway shows what is possible when we have a determined export campaign. We are looking at working with a number of our European allies, and allies further afield, on export deals, not just for our larger platforms, such as warships, but missiles, electronic systems and a whole range of defence equipment.
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Q6
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Pensions forfeiture is rare and usually reserved for cases of serious criminal activity or convictions.
Is it time that the small number of ex-forces personnel from this country who are shamefully fighting for the Russian Federation, either directly in Ukraine or through proxies in north Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, had their pensions cancelled?
The right hon. Member raises an interesting point. Please write to me in due course with examples, and we will look into that, from a defence perspective.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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The Minister announced a defence industrial strategy, which includes investment in shipbuilding on the Clyde and the Forth.
How will the defence industrial strategy ensure that more public money is spent with supply chain businesses in the UK—particularly those in the Teesside defence and innovation cluster in Stockton, Billingham and Norton?
There is a real opportunity to grow further the 2,000 directly supported defence jobs in the north-east. I am happy to speak to my hon. Friend further about that. May I encourage him to stay for the defence industrial strategy statement?
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Q8
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A constituent, Lance Corporal Sarah Bushbye, received the Military Cross and shared her difficulties with physical and psychological effects of service.
Will the Minister meet me and Sarah to hear about the work of the foundation?
I completely empathise with that veteran. I am more than happy to sit down and talk through the pros of that treatment, and to see if we can expand it further.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Cammell Laird has significant expertise and workforce in shipbuilding.
How will the Government ensure that Cammell Laird’s shipbuilding expertise and workforce are fully integrated into the defence industrial strategy, in order to both strengthen sovereign capability and support skilled jobs in the north-west?
There is real expertise in, and opportunities for, our shipyards nationwide—both those that support Royal Navy military vessels, and those that spend much of their time working on Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. There is a real opportunity in not just shipbuilding but ship repair.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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Veterans are experiencing hearing loss linked to defective 3M hearing equipment.
Will the Minister use their arts of persuasion on the Prime Minister to ensure an independent inquiry, so that we can find out the extent of this issue and how we can prevent it from happening again?
Anyone with hearing loss from equipment can absolutely apply for compensation through the war pension scheme or the armed forces compensation scheme. Broader work is happening on those specific bits of capability outside this place.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Five new defence technical excellence colleges have been announced.
I welcome the five new defence technical excellence colleges just announced, but we need a skills pathway right across the country. What plans does the Minister have to support defence learning right across the country, and will he meet me and ADS to see if we can roll out a trial?
There is real expertise in, and opportunities for, our shipyards nationwide—both those that support Royal Navy military vessels, and those that spend much of their time working on Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. There is a real opportunity in not just shipbuilding but ship repair.
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Q12
Partial Answer
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The question arises from concerns over the potential legal repercussions faced by British servicemen and veterans who served in Northern Ireland, particularly regarding retrospective prosecutions.
Will the Secretary of State guarantee—yes or no—that no British serviceman or veteran will face prosecution for actions taken in Northern Ireland while serving their country?
As has been mentioned, as we go through the process, we will ensure that protections are in place, to look after our veterans. The reality is—I am being really honest—that if people broke the law, they will be held accountable, but I assure the hon. Member that veterans who served will be protected.
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The questioner sought a clear yes-or-no guarantee, which was not provided; instead, assurances were given without an explicit commitment.
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Q13
Direct Answer
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The question arises from local concerns regarding economic opportunities, specifically well-paid jobs for young people in Blackpool and Lancashire within the defence industry.
Young people in my constituency are crying out for decent, well-paid jobs, especially in the defence sector, so will the Secretary of State agree to meet me to discuss the Typhoon order that is desperately needed, not only for our country, but for jobs across Blackpool and Lancashire?
I will indeed, and my hon. Friend will be encouraged, I hope, by the visit I paid to Turkey, and the initial agreement that I have signed with Turkey for a big new order of Typhoons, which will be built in Lancashire.
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