Written questions by Mundell.

What the costs of operating the Impact Panel under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme are; and whether the costs of operating the Impact Panel will be taken from the £75M allocated for reparations.

I am withholding the cost of operating the Impact Panel under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme as this information is commercial in confidence. None of the operating costs are taken from the £75 million allocated for making payments under the Scheme.

What monies he has allocated to fund publicity for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme in order to ensure awareness of the Scheme.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that all eligible LGBT Veterans are made aware of the Financial Recognition Scheme. To this end, we have employed a range of communication channels, including social media platforms, partnerships with external charities, and engagement with relevant networks, to reach out to LGBT Veterans affected by the historic ban. It would not be appropriate to disclose the precise funding allocated to these publicity efforts, as this information is considered commercially sensitive. Our priority remains ensuring that those impacted by the ban are informed ahead of the Financial Recognition Scheme’s closure at 23:59 on 12 December 2026, and we will continue to work with stakeholders and utilise appropriate communication methods to achieve this.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the agreement with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory on global security.

For decades, Diego Garcia has played a critical role in global security. It is a critical enabler of our ability to respond to crises and counter complex, challenging security threats. This agreement will safeguard the strategic security interests of the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and the United States, as well as our other regional partners, well into the next century.