Overseas Operations Civil Claims 2020-11-02
2020-11-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is under discussion. There are concerns about its potential impact on service personnel's ability to make civil claims against the Ministry of Defence.
What assessment has been made of the potential effect of the overseas operations Bill on the ability of service personnel to make civil claims against his Department? Does this affect their rights within six years?
The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill will not prevent service personnel and veterans from bringing personal injury claims against the Ministry of Defence in relation to overseas operations within six years. Historically, 94% of such claims have been made already for claims relating to overseas operations.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns have been raised about the rhetoric surrounding exemptions from torture in relation to the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, suggesting it may mislead colleagues and the public.
Does he agree that the rhetoric around exemptions from torture misleads colleagues and the public and only serves to misrepresent the purposes of this long overdue Bill?
No, but let me be really clear on these issues around torture. Nobody would want to reduce our safeguards against torture. We have to be realistic about historical allegations of what this country has put its servicemen and women through. Credible allegations will always be investigated.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not directly address whether the rhetoric is misleading or misrepresenting, but instead clarified the stance on torture safeguards and historical investigations.
Let Me Be Really Clear
We Have To Be Realistic
Response accuracy