Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans: Vexatious Claims

Monday 6 July 2020 · 1 question

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tom Randall asked the Minister about concerns from veterans in his constituency regarding the possibility of being prosecuted due to vexatious claims.
  • The Minister agreed that protecting veterans from unjust prosecutions is a critical issue and a priority for the Government.
  • The Minister highlighted the complexity of balancing the need to prosecute those who break the law with the goal of safeguarding veterans from vexatious claims.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Randall Con Arnold and Carlton
Veterans
Context

A veteran from Tom Randall's constituency expressed worries about potential future prosecutions due to vexatious claims, highlighting the need for protection.

Question

A veteran with an exemplary record from my constituency recently confided in me his concerns—and those of soldiers he served with who come from towns such as Arnold and Carlton—about being prosecuted as a result of vexatious claims in the future. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is our duty to ensure we end unfair trials against people who have served their country?

Answer from Johnny Mercer (Minister for Defence People and Veterans)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This has been one of my driving missions since I entered Parliament. I am delighted to be part of the first Government to have really taken on a very difficult issue, carefully walking down the path of making sure that we can always prosecute those who break the law—uniform is no hiding place for those who do—but that the days of lawyers rewriting history in order to line their own pockets and run amok in lawfare come to an end.

Answered
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