Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Maguire this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 175 · Ministry of Defence
Whether he has had discussions with international counterparts on accelerating the deployment of remote-controlled and autonomous mine-clearance technology to Ukraine to minimize the physical risk to civilian humanitarian deminers.
Awaiting answer.
What steps his Department is taking to share technical expertise and threat intelligence with humanitarian mine action organisations in Ukraine to protect personnel from targeted missile and artillery strikes.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment he has made of trends in the level of ease of access to the benefits system for veterans.
The Government is fully committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and who have served, to ensure veterans and their families get access to support should they need it. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Services operates a national ...
Which recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review are yet to be implemented.
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a vision for long-term transformative and visionary change in Defence over the course of the next decade and beyond. Implementation of the SDR began immediately after the Government endorsed the SDR's 62 recommendat...
Which recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review are yet to be implemented.
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a vision for long-term transformative and visionary change in Defence over the course of the next decade and beyond. Implementation of the SDR began immediately after the Government endorsed the SDR's 62 recommendat...
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of requiring the (a) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and (b) War Pensions to (i) recognise and (ii) compensate veterans with diagnosed chronic pain
The Ministry of Defence has assessed that both the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and the War Pension Scheme (WPS) already provide compensation for pain and suffering as part of a holistic assessment of service-attributable injury or illness. Und...
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing the key recommendations of the UK MOD Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Baseline Study 2024/25 report.
The Department is currently reviewing the recommendations of the UK MOD Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Baseline Study 2024-25. This includes considering the merits of developing both a framework and central register of incidents.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response framework in the UK.
The Department is currently reviewing the recommendations of the UK MOD Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Baseline Study 2024-25. This includes considering the merits of developing both a framework and central register of incidents.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a central register of civilian harm incidents and allegations.
The Department is currently reviewing the recommendations of the UK MOD Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Baseline Study 2024-25. This includes considering the merits of developing both a framework and central register of incidents.
What steps he is taking to help ensure UK compliance with the laws of war in relation to US bombing missions on Iran from UK bases.
The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action. Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is carefully considered to ensure legality.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Capita in managing the recruitment process for army reservists.
Applications to join the Army Reserve have reached their highest level in five years, with more than 5,000 active candidates currently in the pipeline. However, further work is required to strengthen the progression of applicants into trained Reservists. Improving this progression rate is a priority and continues to be the subject of detailed engagement between the Army Reserve and Capita. Regular engagement is undertaken between the Department and Capita and all parties remain committed to identifying, agreeing, and implementing measures that will deliver sustained and measurable improvements across the Reserve recruiting pipeline. Additional enhancements are anticipated during Recruiting Year 2026-27, ahead of the establishment of the Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) in 2027-28.
What discussions he has had with Capita on their management of the recruitment process for army reservists.
Applications to join the Army Reserve have reached their highest level in five years, with more than 5,000 active candidates currently in the pipeline. However, further work is required to strengthen the progression of applicants into trained Reservists. Improving this progression rate is a priority and continues to be the subject of detailed engagement between the Army Reserve and Capita. Regular engagement is undertaken between the Department and Capita and all parties remain committed to identifying, agreeing, and implementing measures that will deliver sustained and measurable improvements across the Reserve recruiting pipeline. Additional enhancements are anticipated during Recruiting Year 2026-27, ahead of the establishment of the Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) in 2027-28.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99038 on Armed Conflict: Civilians, to list what metrics were used during the external review to measure the effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence's approach to (a) mitigate and (b) respond to civilian harm.
In 2025, the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Human Security Policy Unit commissioned an external, independent review of the MOD’s current civilian harm mitigation and response policy; the report also considers the impact of gender and age of civilians. The metrics used were developed in consultation with civil society organisations and included compliance with applicable domestic and international law, as well as the United States of America Department of Defense Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (2022). Due to the classification of the content, there is no intention to publish the detailed findings and recommendations of the external review.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 99038 on Armed Conflict: Civilians, if he will publish the conclusions of the external review.
In 2025, the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Human Security Policy Unit commissioned an external, independent review of the MOD’s current civilian harm mitigation and response policy; the report also considers the impact of gender and age of civilians. The metrics used were developed in consultation with civil society organisations and included compliance with applicable domestic and international law, as well as the United States of America Department of Defense Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (2022). Due to the classification of the content, there is no intention to publish the detailed findings and recommendations of the external review.
If his Department will implement civilian harm tracking for explosive ordnance-related incidents in military operations.
The UK has robust targeting policies, practices and processes to ensure that all military operations are conducted in full compliance with our legal obligations and in a manner that reflects the UK’s clear commitment to the protection of civilians. UK forces observe all practicable precautions, conducting rigorous assessments before and after striking a target. The Ministry of Defence analyses all UK military activity, investigating any credible reports that UK actions may have caused civilian harm.The UK are proud signatories of the 2022 Political Declaration on use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and are party to Protocol Five of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.Our existing practices are some of the most robust and transparent globally and are kept under close review, including for the potential impact of new methods and technologies.
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 91776, and with reference to the UK’s commitments as a signatory of the Political Declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, what steps his Department has taken to review and improve its ability to record and track civilian casualties, including children, using various methods of data collection.
The UK has robust targeting policies, practices and processes to ensure that all military operations are conducted in full compliance with our legal obligations and in a manner that reflects the UK’s clear commitment to the protection of civilians. UK forces observe all practicable precautions, conducting rigorous assessments before and after striking a target. The Ministry of Defence analyses all UK military activity, investigating any credible reports that UK actions may have caused civilian harm.The UK are proud signatories of the 2022 Political Declaration on use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and are party to Protocol Five of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.Our existing practices are some of the most robust and transparent globally and are kept under close review, including for the potential impact of new methods and technologies.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2025 to Question 93101, what recent assessment his Department has made of its ability to mitigate and respond to civilian harm during future military operations, including in a large-scale conflict scenario.
A recent external review has confirmed that the Ministry of Defence's approach to mitigate and respond to civilian harm is effective in the current operating environment and fully compliant with International Humanitarian Law. Whilst impossible to predict the nuances of civilian harm mitigation and response in any future military operation, the Department continues to undertake work to ensure they can respond appropriately to a wide range of scenarios, including a large-scale conflict scenario.
If he will meet with representatives from Beyond the Wire and members of the bereaved Armed Forces community to discuss the adequacy of support for the armed forces bereaved.
Defence officials will be meeting with the CEO of Beyond the Wire on 17 December. Additionally, they have been invited to join the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG), which I believe to be the best mechanism to engage with all the stakeholders that have an interest in supporting the bereaved. There are no current plans for the Secretary of State to meet with the group. Defence recognises the extraordinary commitment and sacrifices that Service families make to our country and, in particular, of those who are bereaved. We take a holistic multi-agency approach to supporting the bereaved community with UK wide support in place through the single Services, Veterans Services and the DBFG. The DBFG itself was formed to ensure two-way communication on matters of bereavement between Defence and the bereaved cohort, facilitating the opportunity to shape policy to ensure those who suffer such loss are treated fairly and with due consideration. It's membership includes chairs of the Widows’ Associations, representatives from Government, bereaved support services, and military charities.
What steps he is taking to support armed forces personnel who are unable to be deployed due to mental and behavioural disorders.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages personnel to consider their mental fitness as equally as important as their physical fitness promoting good mental resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of potential traumatic experiences. The Department encourages early identification and intervention for those experiencing mental health challenges and actively promotes a culture where Personnel feel comfortable seeking help without stigma. Personnel have access to a vast range of resources to support their mental health with both in-person and online options, briefings before, during, and post-deployment, a dedicated 24 hour phoneline for both personnel and their families and access to HeadFIT; an externally accessible website specifically designed for the Defence community. All Personnel, attend a mandated annual mental fitness brief which provides information on mental health, wellbeing, stress management, and provides signposting to appropriate help. Personnel who are unable to be deployed due to mental health disorders are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. DPHC has introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure Personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre, strengthening the initial management of mental health disorders within primary care settings. Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) are located across the UK and are improving access to specialist mental health services for personnel. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for personnel experiencing mental health disorders. By introducing new single points of access, enabling the sharing of specialist skills across network locations and consolidating clinical and governance processes DMHNs are reducing wait times to enhanced assessments and core treatment therapies. The through life support now provided to Service personnel will have a positive impact on the veterans of the future, ensuring that Armed Forces Personnel have the psychological resilience they need to recognise mental ill-health in themselves, those around them and know how to manage it. Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they are fit to fight and can fight back to fitness.
What steps he is taking to help prevent armed forces personnel from developing mental and behavioural disorders.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages personnel to consider their mental fitness as equally as important as their physical fitness promoting good mental resilience and mitigating the negative impacts of potential traumatic experiences. The Department encourages early identification and intervention for those experiencing mental health challenges and actively promotes a culture where Personnel feel comfortable seeking help without stigma. Personnel have access to a vast range of resources to support their mental health with both in-person and online options, briefings before, during, and post-deployment, a dedicated 24 hour phoneline for both personnel and their families and access to HeadFIT; an externally accessible website specifically designed for the Defence community. All Personnel, attend a mandated annual mental fitness brief which provides information on mental health, wellbeing, stress management, and provides signposting to appropriate help. Personnel who are unable to be deployed due to mental health disorders are managed clinically by Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC). DPHC provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service. DPHC has introduced standardised training for primary care clinicians incorporating emerging digital interventions to ensure Personnel can access initial mental healthcare at any Defence medical centre, strengthening the initial management of mental health disorders within primary care settings. Defence Mental Health Networks (DMHNs) are located across the UK and are improving access to specialist mental health services for personnel. These specialist community mental health services provide enhanced access to expert assessment and treatment for personnel experiencing mental health disorders. By introducing new single points of access, enabling the sharing of specialist skills across network locations and consolidating clinical and governance processes DMHNs are reducing wait times to enhanced assessments and core treatment therapies. The through life support now provided to Service personnel will have a positive impact on the veterans of the future, ensuring that Armed Forces Personnel have the psychological resilience they need to recognise mental ill-health in themselves, those around them and know how to manage it. Defence is committed to ensuring that Service Personnel receive the care and treatment required to ensure they are fit to fight and can fight back to fitness.