Written questions by Murrison.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the impact of unregistered and uninsured vessels on the value of sanctions against the Russian Federation that have been evaded.

Our oil-related sanctions are having a significant impact, with Russia forced to shoulder a 25% reduction in oil and gas revenues from January to October 2024, compared to the same period in 2022. Where Russia has sought to circumvent those sanctions, we have taken robust action. We have now sanctioned 93 shadow fleet oil tankers; and we are exposing malign maritime practices by requesting proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels passing through the English Channel - an approach partners along the Baltic route will now replicate. We continue to step up our efforts, working closely with partners, to ensure our sanctions' effectiveness and impact.

How many (a) unregistered and (b) uninsured vessels have been boarded by UK authorities in UK territorial waters in 2024.

No unregistered or uninsured commercial vessels have been boarded by UK authorities in UK territorial waters this year.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) unregistered and (b) uninsured vessels do not (i) enter UK territorial waters and (ii) dock at UK ports.

As a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNLCOS), the UK (or any state that has subscribed to the agreement) cannot disrupt the transit passage of vessels through its territorial waters for lacking insurance, or being unregistered, as this is not considered to fall within any of the exceptions to passage being ‘innocent passage’. Refusal to allow a vessel to dock into a UK port is a decision for the port. Vessels docked at a UK port may be subject to a Port State Control inspection. Registration and insurance are part of the documentation that is checked.

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 provide recognition to those impacted by the Ban.

How many wet cargo ships have been boarded by UK authorities in territorial waters for lacking insurance this year.

No wet cargo ships have been boarded by UK authorities in territorial waters due to a lack of insurance this year.

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:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/war-pensions-scheme-statistics-2024

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 Lejeune to write to his Department for advice.

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 platforms such a X. Again, it is worth noting that the US compensation scheme was in place for almost two years before the new Ministerial team were notified and took swift action. 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 the appropriate advice. 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.

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 before this was brought to the attention of the new Ministerial team. I will continue to advocate for our Service personnel, veterans, and their families where they have been affected. For spouses and civil partners of Service personnel, they may be able to claim through the War Widows Pension scheme, should they be eligible, and support can be provided to dependants via the Veterans Welfare Services. Further details for both can be found at Gov.uk

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 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 while living at Camp Lejeune.

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 compensation scheme was running for almost two years before the new Ministry of Defence (MOD) Ministerial team were informed. The MOD does not currently plan to commission epidemiological studies for Service personnel and dependants who may have been exposed to contaminated water while living at Camp Lejeune. The 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. 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.

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 they believe they have been affected by contaminated water.

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 been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team. Immediate instruction was given to Service Chiefs to communicate the scheme to anyone who may have been based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987, as well as on Ministry of Defence external channels.

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 Ministerial Correspondence from relatives of veterans and veterans, one letter direct from a veteran and nine Freedom of Information Requests on the matter. 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. 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.

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 affected by contaminated water.

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 statements encouraging those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. This was done through an article on Gov.uk, on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services.

Whether the Health and Safety Executive hold information on the number of electrocutions caused by the use of water-fed poles in window cleaning.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) places duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report work-related fatalities, certain injuries, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses). Reports are made via a dedicated RIDDOR submission form. An electrocution that occurred during window cleaning being carried out as a ‘work activity’ (as opposed to by the homeowner) would be reportable under RIDDOR as a work-related fatality. The Health and Safety Executive collects information on deaths from contact with electricity in the category of ‘building and industrial cleaning activities’. However, it does not collect specific information relating to electrocutions caused by the use of water-fed poles in window cleaning.