Written questions by Morgan.

How much was awarded in compensation payments to families living in service family accommodation in (a) Shropshire and (b) North Shropshire constituency in each year since 2020.

The table below details the number of compensation payments awarded to families living in Service Family Accommodation within the County of Shropshire and North Shropshire constituency since 2022. It also identifies how much was awarded in compensation payments. Compensation payments are made to Service Personnel in certain circumstances, ranging from missed appointments to the loss of cooking facilities. We are only able to answer the questions since the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) Contract began in April 2022. Data prior to the start of the FDIS Contract is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost. YearCounty/ ConstituencyNumber of Compensation Payments AwardedTotal value of Compensation Payments Awarded2022Shropshire County57£2,920.00North Shropshire Constituency12£1,200.002023Shropshire County179£38,890.00North Shropshire Constituency60£14,420.002024Shropshire County249£16,435.00North Shropshire Constituency85£5,670.002025 (up to & including 22 Jun 25)Shropshire County87£4,070.00North Shropshire Constituency39£1,610.00 Please note that the North Shropshire Constituency figures are included within the Shropshire County Total figures.

What data his Department holds on the number of compensation payments awarded to families living in service family accommodation in (a) Shropshire and (b) North Shropshire constituency in each year since 2020.

The table below details the number of compensation payments awarded to families living in Service Family Accommodation within the County of Shropshire and North Shropshire constituency since 2022. It also identifies how much was awarded in compensation payments. Compensation payments are made to Service Personnel in certain circumstances, ranging from missed appointments to the loss of cooking facilities. We are only able to answer the questions since the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) Contract began in April 2022. Data prior to the start of the FDIS Contract is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost. YearCounty/ ConstituencyNumber of Compensation Payments AwardedTotal value of Compensation Payments Awarded2022Shropshire County57£2,920.00North Shropshire Constituency12£1,200.002023Shropshire County179£38,890.00North Shropshire Constituency60£14,420.002024Shropshire County249£16,435.00North Shropshire Constituency85£5,670.002025 (up to & including 22 Jun 25)Shropshire County87£4,070.00North Shropshire Constituency39£1,610.00 Please note that the North Shropshire Constituency figures are included within the Shropshire County Total figures.

How many homes occupied by families from (a) RAF Shawbury, (b) RAF Cosford and (c) Clive Barracks do not have up to date gas safety certificates.

The number of occupied Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes at RAF Shawbury, RAF Cosford and Clive Barracks (Ternhill) that do not have up to date gas safety certificates or electrical safety certificates as at 18 June 2025, is shown in the following table: Number of occupied SFA with Expired Gas Safety CertificatesNumber of occupied SFA with Expired Electrical Safety CertificatesShawbury00Cosford40Ternhill (Clive Barracks)01 The safety of Service personnel and their families is the Departments highest priority, and it is unacceptable for any family to be living in a home without the necessary checks. It remains a top priority to gain access to these homes to carry out this work. Access has been attempted to all of these properties at least three times, and the Chain of Command has been asked to assist.

How many homes occupied by families from (a) RAF Shawbury, (b) RAF Cosford and (c) Clive Barracks do not have up to date electrical safety certificates.

The number of occupied Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes at RAF Shawbury, RAF Cosford and Clive Barracks (Ternhill) that do not have up to date gas safety certificates or electrical safety certificates as at 18 June 2025, is shown in the following table: Number of occupied SFA with Expired Gas Safety CertificatesNumber of occupied SFA with Expired Electrical Safety CertificatesShawbury00Cosford40Ternhill (Clive Barracks)01 The safety of Service personnel and their families is the Departments highest priority, and it is unacceptable for any family to be living in a home without the necessary checks. It remains a top priority to gain access to these homes to carry out this work. Access has been attempted to all of these properties at least three times, and the Chain of Command has been asked to assist.

Whether his Department has produced a timeline to implement the recommendations of the Kerslake Review.

The Government has commissioned a new Defence Housing Strategy, due for publication later this year, that will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation. The Ministry of Defence remains committed to improving military housing, widening entitlement, and the new consumer charter announced in April 2025. With Strategic Defence Review and Spending Review only recently published and as part of ongoing Defence Reform activity we are actively working on producing a detailed timeline on how to implement the recommendations from the Kerslake review, aligned to the priorities set out by the Secretary of State for Defence. A new taskforce has been formed including HM Treasury, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government that is reviewing how estate disposals are conducted.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8912 on Armed Forces: Housing, how much of the funding for (a) maintaining and (b) improving Service Family Accommodation in 2024-25 will be spent in North Shropshire constituency.

In Financial Year 2024-25 circa £3.3 million was spent on maintaining and improving Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the North Shropshire constituency. Circa £400,000 was spent on maintenance costs and circa £2.9 million was spent on improvements to SFA. The figures provided do not include the core maintenance costs of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) Accommodation contract as we are unable to break the costs down into constituency.

What steps he is taking to improve the quality of military accommodation at (a) RAF Shawbury and (b) of armed forces personnel in the surrounding area.

The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking an extensive review of its entire Service Family Accommodation portfolio, including RAF Shawbury. The review will also include how the Department will make best use of the properties that have been reacquired from Annington, and which homes and locations can most benefit from investment.The Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out wider plans to improve the standard of SFA. The sites that will be refurbished are being worked through carefully, with the ambition to fairly make improvements across the UK.No major improvement projects are currently planned for Single Living Accommodation at RAF Shawbury.

What steps he is taking to improve the quality of military accommodation at Clive Barracks.

The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking an extensive review of its entire Service Family Accommodation portfolio which will include Clive Barracks. The review will also include how the Department will make best use of the properties that have been reacquired from Annington, and which homes and locations can most benefit from investment.The Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out wider plans to improve the standard of Service family homes. The sites that will be refurbished are being worked through carefully, with the ambition to fairly make improvements across the UK.Clive Barracks has been identified for closure, as such, work has been largely limited to ongoing works to improve and maintain ablutions.During Financial Year 2024-25, a project providing new temporary Single Living Accommodation SLA with ensuite bathrooms, comprising of 88 single occupancy bedspaces, with supporting kitchens and utility rooms, was delivered to replace old accommodation that comprised of four-man rooms with shared ablutions, and address a shortfall of bedspaces.No other SLA improvement works are programmed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8912 on Armed Forces: Housing, how much and what proportion of the (a) £41 million funding for refurbishment, heating, and room conversions to provide extra bed spaces and (b) £7.5 million funding for improving the condition and heating she plans to spend on single living accommodation in North Shropshire constituency.

No major improvement projects are currently planned for Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at sites in the North Shropshire constituency. However, routine maintenance and improvement works take place at all sites as required. Previous works at Clive Barracks in Financial Year 2023-24 and 2024-25 included: The provision of an additional 88 self-contained en-suite facilities (circa £5.2 million).Work to remove damp and mould from rooms and ablutions with additional works identified for improved ventilation.New carpets installed throughout the SLA.Fire Safety Works have been completed to improve fire safety for personnel.

How many of the houses bought from Annington are in (a) North Shropshire constituency, (b) Shropshire, (c) Staffordshire and (d) Telford and Wrekin.

The table below shows the number of properties bought by the Ministry of Defence from Annington Property Ltd located in North Shropshire, South Shropshire, Staffordshire, Telford, and Wrekin constituencies. LocationNumber of properties purchased from Annington Property LtdNorth Shropshire140South Shropshire0Stafford190Telford0Wrekin600

If his Department will take steps to discover the full extent of health issues in aircrew exposed to (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes from helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the health and wellbeing of our people. The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) was previously tasked to review independently the evidence base for causality between Sea King helicopter exhaust fumes and rare cancers. The report by the IMEG concluded that the evidence did not meet internationally adopted criteria for causation of these rare cancers. The Department will continue to monitor medical evidence and respond accordingly.

What steps his Department is taking to protect aircrew members from exposure to helicopter (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What the highest individual settlement paid to an aircrew member has been for the impact of helicopter exhaust fume exposure in each of the last five years.

In the last five financial years, damages have been paid in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24 to former aircrew who have made common law compensation claims alleging adverse impacts of helicopter exhaust fumes. I have concerns that disclosing individual damages awards risks revealing the identity of individual claimants and I am, therefore, withholding the individual settlements under Freedom of Information Act Section 40(2) to protect personal information as governed by the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopters on air quality in areas with high helicopter air traffic.

Neither the Sea King nor Westland Wessex remain in service with the Ministry of Defence. They were retired in 2018 and 2003 respectively. We do not believe that there is an increased risk to air quality from Puma and Chinook helicopters. However, we fully recognise the importance of acting on safety concerns. As such, the department has begun work to initiate a programme of engine exhaust emissions substance monitoring for in service helicopters in accordance with Health and Safety Executive approved methods.

Whether he has had discussions with his (a) German and (b) Dutch counterpart on longer exhausts in (a) CH-47 Chinook, (b) Puma, (c) Sea King and (d) Westland Wessex helicopters.

We have found no record of any discussions with Dutch or German counterparts regarding longer exhausts on Chinook and Puma aircraft. The German military does not operate Chinook nor Puma helicopters. The Netherlands does not operate Puma helicopters. Due to their out of service dates of 2003 and 2018, no relevant information is held within Ministry of Defence relating to Sea King and Wessex helicopters; however, the Netherlands did not operate Sea King helicopters and neither country operated the Wessex.

How many compensation payments have been made by his Department for health issues relating to Armed Forces helicopters since 23 April 2023; and what was the total value of those payments.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

When his Department first became aware of the potential link between long exposure to exhaust fumes from helicopters used by the Armed Forces and the risk of cancer.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of exposure to (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopter (i) fuel and (ii) exhaust fumes on aircrew’s (A) health and (B) risk of developing cancer.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are seven related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

How many legal claims made against his Department in relation to the impact of aircrew’s exposure to helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were outstanding on 14 November 2024.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in relation to common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes. As of the 14 November 2024 there are six related, continuing common law compensation claims. The department is in the process of testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters, including Chinook and Puma to ensure we are meeting our duty of care for personnel. It is essential that we can assure our people of their safety at work. The Westland Sea king was retired in 2018. The Westland Wessex was retired in 2003.

What progress his Department has made to deliver (a) new and (b) refurbished military accommodation for 40,000 service men and women.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA): The Ministry of Defence (MOD) manages c47,000 SFA properties in the UK. In financial year (FY) 2024-25, the Department has purchased 351 new homes at a cost of £157 million, in areas where there is a shortage of SFA. £441 million is currently forecast to be spent on maintaining and improving SFA including: £180 million to improve insulation in c600 homes; remediate c1,000 homes with long-term damp and mould issues, and refurbishing c200 long-term empty homes. C1,700 minor damp and mould packages are planned and c30 homes will receive upgraded heating. Single Living Accommodation (SLA): As part of a new programmatic approach for the construction of SLA which is intended to improve the delivery of new accommodation by finding efficiencies and improving value for money, the Department has appointed six companies to undertake this work. This will see 16,000 new bedspaces built as part of a wider-MOD plan to build or refurbish 40,000 SLA bedspaces over 10 years. The work will improve the lived experience for Service Personnel occupying the rooms. In FY 2024-25 £41 million is currently forecast to be spent on improving the condition of SLA including: refurbishment, heating, and room conversions to provide additional bedspaces. A further £7.5 million is forecast to be spent on internal improvements to condition and heating. An additional c£14.3 million is forecast to be spent on Safe & Legal SLA compliance works.