Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Homosexuality Ban: Reparations

Monday 5 July 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial acceptance that the ban on LGBT members serving in the armed forces was wrong.
  • Work is underway to understand and acknowledge the impact of the pre-millennium ban on LGBT service members.
  • A veterans strategy action update plan will address the issue, to be announced in winter.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Carden Lab Liverpool Walton
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

The historic ban on homosexuality in the armed forces adversely affected numerous veterans, leading to significant personal and professional hardships. The question addresses the need for consultation and delivery of reparations.

Question

What steps he is taking to consult on and deliver reparations for service personnel adversely impacted by the historic ban on homosexuality enforced by the armed forces.

Answer from Leo Docherty

The Government accept that the historic policy of prohibiting members of the LGBT community from serving in the armed forces was absolutely wrong. Work is under way to understand and acknowledge the wide-ranging impact of the pre-millennium practice of the ban. That will ensure that it is not only through the return of medals that the impacts of this historic policy are addressed. We will be announcing this work in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a timetable and an apology was not directly answered, focusing instead on ongoing work without concrete timelines or commitments.

How: Underway, Will Announce

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Q2 Dan Carden Lab Liverpool Walton
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

Upwards of 20,000 veterans were affected by the ban on homosexuality in the armed forces, facing medical examinations and imprisonment. The question seeks an apology from the Prime Minister and a timetable for addressing this injustice.

Question

The ban on homosexuality in the armed forces is expected to have affected upwards of 20,000 veterans, who faced inhumane treatment, from medical examinations to imprisonment, and have lived a life of shame and fear. This historic injustice warrants an apology from the Prime Minister. I wonder if the Minister will seek that on behalf of the nation. These men and women have waited long enough. Will he set out a timetable for righting this historic wrong?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Addressing this injustice will be at the heart of the veterans strategy action update plan, which I will announce in the winter. I thank the hon. Member for his sustained interest in the issue. I cannot pre-empt the findings of this workstream, but I assure him that we will address this matter with compassion, humility and urgency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a timetable was not directly answered; the answer referenced an upcoming announcement without providing concrete details.

How: Winter, Cannot Pre-Empt

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