Written questions by Arthur.

If he will hold discussions with Historic Environment Scotland on improving access for Royal Regiment of Scotland veterans to their regimental museum within Edinburgh Castle.

Awaiting answer.

If he will hold discussions with Historic Environment Scotland on access to Edinburgh Castle for Royal Regiment of Scotland veterans.

Awaiting answer.

What date range of claims for the War Pensions Scheme is currently being processed by officials.

As at 20 April 2026, War Pension Scheme (WPS) case workers are completing the initial scrutiny of claims received during the week commencing 21 December 2025. To ensure workflow is managed effectively and fairly, all WPS cases are processed in strict date order, with priority given to those with a terminal illness and to claimants over the age of 90.

What steps he is taking to promote UK Type 31 frigates to NATO allies considering funding for their fleets.

We are fully supporting industry by promoting the benefits of the Type 31 frigate to our NATO partners and allies whilst being sympathetic to their own capability and indigenous industrial requirements.

How many members of the armed forces serving in Scotland who are considered not medically deployable are awaiting treatment; and how many have been waiting longer than six months.

As of 11 October 2025, there were 221 UK Armed Forces personnel graded as Medically Not Deployable awaiting an NHS or private healthcare appointment following a referral from a Medical Centre in Scotland. Of these, 95 have been waiting longer than six months.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of staffing levels administering the War Pension Scheme.

The MOD is currently handling a significant volume of claims. To address this, staffing levels have been evaluated as part of efforts to reduce holdings and improve processing times. Several measures are being implemented, including the recruitment of additional staff for the War Pension Scheme, the introduction of new training programmes and standardised processes, and enhancements to IT systems to optimise and digitise the end to end services we provide to veterans.

What steps he is taking to help support veterans facing homelessness in each UK nation.

The Prime Minister has made clear that ensuring veterans and their families can access support, including for housing, is a priority. In November 2024, he announced an additional £3.5 million to continue the Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme, which provides vital supported housing services to veterans across the UK. This programme has awarded grants to organisations in all four UK nations. Further information on grant awards can be found here: https://covenantfund.org.uk/reducing-veterans-homelessness-projects-weve-supported/ This funding also provides continuation of Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway providing housing support to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness across the UK. To date, Op FORTITUDE has taken over 3,800 referrals and supported over 970 veterans into housing. We have removed the five-year local connection requirement for veterans to access social housing in England. This is in addition to existing regulations which state veterans must be given 'additional priority' status as long as they have an urgent housing need. In addition, the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund has awarded and continues to award grants to organisations across the UK to refurbish, expand or enhance veteran accommodation. This programme will ensure there will be a long-term and sustainable supply of high-quality properties with access to wraparound support for veterans. Further information on the grants awarded under this programme can be found here: https://covenantfund.org.uk/2025/05/14/almost-4-5-million-awarded-to-support-veterans-with-a-housing-need/

Whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the withdraw funding for Veterans First Point Lothian.

I engage regularly with the Scottish Government and with the Scottish Veterans' Commissioner on issues affecting veterans who live in Scotland. Health is a devolved matter, so it is for the Scottish Government to decide on funding allocations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of banning of weapons exports to Israel on the training of Israeli Defense Forces personnel in the UK.

Whilst both take into account international humanitarian law considerations, decisions to suspend certain export licences to Israel and the provision of UK training courses to Israel Defence Forces personnel are not directly linked. There are fewer than five members of the IDF currently enrolled on non-combat academic courses in the UK. The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is currently considered on a case-by-case basis. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.

When the last time was that a member of UK armed forces was trained by Israel Defense Forces.

The last time a member of the UK Armed Forces was trained by Israel Defence Forces was in Israel on a military academic course in July 2022.

What his target sale date is for the Redford Barracks site; whether he plans to have (a) a single sale and (b) sale in parts; if he will publish a plan of the area being considered for disposal; and what discussions he has had with (i) City of Edinburgh Council on the future use of the site and (ii) developers on this matter.

The target sale date for the Redford Barracks site remains 2030. The Ministry of Defence anticipates selling the whole site in a single sale; however, it is too early in the disposal process to confirm this. A plan of the disposal area will be published as part of routine engagement. Discussions have taken place with the City of Edinburgh Council as part of the Local Plan process. There have been no discussions with developers at this stage.

How many Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (a) his Department has and (b) will be surplus to requirements by 2030; and how many of that he plans to provide to Ukraine.

As at 1 June 2025, there are 359 Warrior vehicles in service. As the Out of Service date for Warrior is 2027, with all vehicles withdrawn from service by the end of the decade, any that remain held by the Department beyond this will be classed as surplus to requirements. Plans for Warrior beyond its Out of Service Date are yet to be formally agreed.

Whether he plans to extend the Scottish Income Tax Mitigation scheme to reservists.

Only Regular Service personnel who are Scottish taxpayers are eligible to receive a payment under the terms of the Scottish Income Tax Mitigation scheme. This reflects the fact that Regular Service personnel cannot choose where they serve and so cannot choose to work elsewhere to avoid paying higher taxes. For this reason, the Ministry of Defence has no plans to extend the scheme to Reservists.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of service family accommodation in Scotland.

Circa 97% of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in Scotland meets or exceeds the Government's Decent Homes Standard. This Government continues to invest significant sums to improve the quality of SFA in the United Kingdom. For Financial Year 2024-25, circa £445 million is forecast to be spent on maintaining and improving SFA. Work is now underway with the Defence Housing Strategy Review which started following the completion of the Annington Deal in January 2025. The Military Housing Strategy planned for publication in Summer 2025 will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation.

How many Service Family Accommodation units were available in Scotland between 2010 and 2014; and how many and what proportion of those were reported to have (a) black mould and (b) damp in the same period.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Service personnel and their families have benefitted from the delivery of damp and mould packages of works. The severity of damp and mould cases now being raised, has reduced significantly since the Taskforce was first established, with circa 3% of reported cases now being at the most severe level.The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will continue with its current approach to ensure cases of damp and mould are addressed on a priority basis.The table below shows the number of SFA properties available in Scotland, as at 1 April, from 2010 to 2014. This includes occupied and empty SFA available for allocation. YearNumber of SFAApril 20103,237April 20112,969April 20122,897April 20132,981April 20143,033 The number of SFA properties in Scotland between 2010 and 2014 with reported cases of damp and mould, is not held centrally. Information requested prior to April 2022, can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Due to the way in which Defence accommodation is managed, Awaab’s Law cannot be applied directly. However, the MOD has agreed to mirror or exceed any regulations set out in Awaab’s Law, in its own policies and procedures and this will continue to be a priority. The MOD will continue to move families to alternative accommodation in the most serious cases of damp and mould or if a family member has a known vulnerability.

What assessment he has made of the extent of any black mould problem in service family accommodation in Scotland.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Service personnel and their families have benefitted from the delivery of damp and mould packages of works. The severity of damp and mould cases now being raised, has reduced significantly since the Taskforce was first established, with circa 3% of reported cases now being at the most severe level.The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will continue with its current approach to ensure cases of damp and mould are addressed on a priority basis.The table below shows the number of SFA properties available in Scotland, as at 1 April, from 2010 to 2014. This includes occupied and empty SFA available for allocation. YearNumber of SFAApril 20103,237April 20112,969April 20122,897April 20132,981April 20143,033 The number of SFA properties in Scotland between 2010 and 2014 with reported cases of damp and mould, is not held centrally. Information requested prior to April 2022, can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Due to the way in which Defence accommodation is managed, Awaab’s Law cannot be applied directly. However, the MOD has agreed to mirror or exceed any regulations set out in Awaab’s Law, in its own policies and procedures and this will continue to be a priority. The MOD will continue to move families to alternative accommodation in the most serious cases of damp and mould or if a family member has a known vulnerability.

Is he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of the Scottish Income Tax Mitigation scheme in each financial year between 2018-19 and 2024-25.

The Ministry of Defence’s Scottish income tax mitigation payment scheme is unique within the public sector and has been agreed by wider Government for use only where Service personnel are compelled to serve at one location over another. The scheme aims to support retention of those serving in Scotland by removing the disadvantage of higher taxes applying on those required to serve there who might not choose to do so if not compelled. The estimated cost to the public purse of the Scottish Income Tax Mitigation scheme is set out below. Figures commence from Financial Year 2019-20, covering payments for those affected in Tax Year 2018-19. Financial YearEstimated Cost (£million)2019-204.692020-217.362021-228.112022-238.272023-249.312024-2512.74

With reference to the press notice entitled Awaab’s Law to force landlords to fix dangerous homes, published 6 February 2025, if he will take steps to extend Awaab's law to include all Service Family Accommodation provided by his Department.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges serious concerns regarding damp and mould in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). A Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023 to address reported cases of damp and mould in SFA and since then, over 9,000 Service personnel and their families have benefitted from the delivery of damp and mould packages of works. The severity of damp and mould cases now being raised, has reduced significantly since the Taskforce was first established, with circa 3% of reported cases now being at the most severe level.The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will continue with its current approach to ensure cases of damp and mould are addressed on a priority basis.The table below shows the number of SFA properties available in Scotland, as at 1 April, from 2010 to 2014. This includes occupied and empty SFA available for allocation. YearNumber of SFAApril 20103,237April 20112,969April 20122,897April 20132,981April 20143,033 The number of SFA properties in Scotland between 2010 and 2014 with reported cases of damp and mould, is not held centrally. Information requested prior to April 2022, can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Due to the way in which Defence accommodation is managed, Awaab’s Law cannot be applied directly. However, the MOD has agreed to mirror or exceed any regulations set out in Awaab’s Law, in its own policies and procedures and this will continue to be a priority. The MOD will continue to move families to alternative accommodation in the most serious cases of damp and mould or if a family member has a known vulnerability.

How many homes his Department owns in Edinburgh South West constituency; and how many of those (a) have Ministry of Defence tenants, (b) have private tenants and (c) are vacant.

As of 5 January 2025, there are 418 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties owned by the Ministry of Defence in the Edinburgh South West Constituency.254 SFA properties are occupied by Serving Personnel (SP) and their families. 72 SFA properties are rented by private tenants and 92 are currently vacant.

Whether plans to terminate tenancies of private sector tenants living in his Department's homes on the Dreghorn (Edinburgh) estate.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has identified the Dreghorn (Edinburgh) estate as surplus to requirements. As a result, all private sector tenants will be given at least two months’ notice to vacate, in accordance with their tenancy agreements. There is currently no timeframe for the notices to be issued. MOD officials will engage with those affected and advise them when a schedule has been agreed.