Written questions by Murrison.

(a) on what dates and (b) how his Department contacted service personnel on potential exposure to water contaminants in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1953 and 1987.

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services. I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.

If he will list communications issued from his Department to potential victims of water contamination in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1953 and 1987.

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services. I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.

What his planned timetable is for publication of the response to the financial award section of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published on 19 July 2023.

I am pleased to say that on 12 December 2024, during a debate held in Parliament, the Secretary of State announced that the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme would be launched on 13 December 2024, with a budget of £75 million. This Scheme intends to provi...

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14931 on War Widows Pension Scheme, how many (a) spouses and (b) civil partners have claimed compensation via the War Widows Pension Scheme.

The number of widows' or widowers' claims under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) claims relating to Camp Lejeune is not centrally held. War Pensions Scheme statistics, including for the War Widows Pension Scheme, are published on gov.uk at the following link:...

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 13744 on USA: Veterans, what platforms his Department has used to encourage (a) Service personnel, (b) veterans and (c) dependents previously based in Camp L

The Department has released several statements encouraging those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the Department, through an article on Gov.uk, and on the Department’s social media accounts on platform...

What access to compensation from his Department family members of UK service personnel stationed at Camp Lejeune have for illness resulting from contamination.

I once again encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the Ministry of Defence so that we may provide them with advice. The contamination of water at Camp Lejeune was known for almost two years b...

Pursuant to the Answers of 6 November to Questions 11571 and 11572 on USA: Veterans, what epidemiological studies he plans to commission for (a) service personnel and (b) dependents who may have been contaminated

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is worth noting that the US ...

Pursuant to the Answers of 6 November to Questions 11571 and 11572 on USA: Veterans, how many Camp Lejeune veterans have applied through the War Pension Scheme.

It is worth noting that the US compensation scheme was running for almost two years before the new MOD Ministerial team were informed. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answers of 28 October 2024 to Questions 4187, 4188, and 4189 on USA: Veterans, what steps his Department is taking to encourage Camp Lejeune veterans to come forward if they believe they have been

It is worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to release several statement...

Pursuant to the Answers of 28 October 2024 to Questions 4187, 4188, and 4189 on USA: Veterans, whether he has held discussions with veterans organisations on encouraging Camp Lejeune veterans to come forward if t

We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believe that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. The US compensation scheme had b...

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 4189 on USA: Veterans, how many Camp Lejeune veterans have contacted his Department as a result of the encouragement cited.

The US compensation scheme for those affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team. The Ministry of Defence has received three pieces of Minister...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of providing (a) eyewear and (b) eye tests for Ukrainian troops being trained in the UK on the health and wellbeing of those troops; and what estimate he has ma

The UK takes the health and wellbeing of Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) personnel extremely seriously while they are training on Operation INTERFLEX, however, it is the responsibility of the AFU to screen all AFU personnel prior to their participation in U...

Whether his Department holds information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.

The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987. While we do not have details of personnel who served at the Camp, we are making every effort...

Whether any British personnel affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune received compensation under the War Pension Scheme.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of opening another application period for compensation of British personnel affected by the Camp Lejeune water contamination.

Once I was made aware, on 30 July this year, of the Camp Lejeune US compensation scheme which was available from August 2022, direction was sent through the Department to encourage those who think they may have been affected by the contaminated water at C...