As a consequence of the long-standing Law Officers\u2019 Convention, the Attorney General does not confirm whether advice has been provided to Ministerial colleagues on any particular issue, or the content of any advice that has been given. Policy responsibility for this matter lies with the Secretary of State for Defence.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1508", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Torridge and West Devon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Geoffrey Cox"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-05T08:32:56.627Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on legal protections for armed forces personnel and veterans.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1541", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Llanelli"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nia Griffith"} ], "uin" : "257488"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1127972", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1127972/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Defence will launch a public consultation in summer 2019 on legislation to protect veterans who may be subject to repeated investigations in relation to overseas operations many years after the events in question.<\/p>
This is a personal priority for me and I hope that we can bring forward legislation as soon as possible.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-04T15:05:43.227Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Written Statement of 21 May 2019, Official Report HCWS1575 on Legal Protections and Support for Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans, when the public consultation on legal protections will (a) open and (b) close.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1541", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Llanelli"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nia Griffith"} ], "uin" : "257032"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143626", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143626/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The consultation on Legal Protections for Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans will close on 13 October 2019. The Ministry of Defence will study carefully the responses on its proposals (on a statutory presumption against prosecutions arising from overseas incidents occurring more than 10 years previously; on a partial defence that takes account of the operational context; and on limiting the courts\u2019 discretion to extend the three-year time limit for bringing civil claims for personal injury or death) before deciding how to take these measures forward.<\/p>
<\/p>
The proposed civil litigation longstop will not preclude Service personnel or civilians deployed on overseas operations from bringing claims in relation to PTSD or other conditions that manifest or are diagnosed more than 10 years after the incident which caused the condition, as section 11 of the Limitation Act calculates time limits from the later of (a) the date on which the cause of action accrued or (b) the date of knowledge.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4485", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Johnny Mercer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Johnny Mercer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "285097"} , {"_value" : "285226"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-05T15:59:09.38Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library any analysis undertaken by his Department on the effect of proposals in Section 3 Civil litigation longstop of the consultation on Legal Protection for Armed Forces Personnel and Veterans in operations outside of the UK on (a) personnel who experience PTSD in excess of 10 years after their service; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1490", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bridgend"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Madeleine Moon"} ], "uin" : "284997"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1144510", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1144510/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are regular meetings between Cabinet colleagues to discuss matters relating to the development of legal measures which will provide protection for our Armed Forces and veterans from the threat of re-investigation, and possible prosecution, for events which occurred many years ago.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4485", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Johnny Mercer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Johnny Mercer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-09T16:16:14.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on introducing a statute of limitations to protect servicemen and women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4498", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Ranil Jayawardena"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hampshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Ranil Jayawardena"} ], "uin" : "286378"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150810", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1150810/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The prosecution of veterans is something that we take very seriously. Our Service personnel are of course subject to the law, but veterans should not have to face repeated investigations many years after the events in question. This is why we have just completed a public consultation on proposed legal protections measures for serving personnel and veterans. Once we have analysed the responses, we will bring forward legislation.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4485", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Johnny Mercer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Johnny Mercer"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-10-21T16:42:04.767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "If he will introduce a statute of limitations to protect servicemen and women from prosecution.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4498", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Ranil Jayawardena"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Hampshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Ranil Jayawardena"} ], "uin" : "900016"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1521168", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1521168/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Defence is confident that the Service Justice System is capable of dealing with all offences whatever their seriousness and wherever they occur. Therefore, after further and full consideration of the recommendation made by HH Shaun Lyons in the Service Justice System Review on the jurisdiction for murder, manslaughter and rape offences in the UK, the Secretary of State concluded that the existing principle of full concurrency between the service and civilian jurisdictions should be maintained.<\/p>
<\/p>
Commencement regulations were made earlier this year, bringing section 7 of the Armed Forces Act 2021 into force in full in England and Wales from 1 May 2022, which allows the independent Service and civilian prosecutors to agree a protocol on handling cases where there is concurrent jurisdiction. Decisions on which jurisdiction should deal with criminal offending by Service personnel will continue to be made by the relevant policing and prosecutorial authorities on a case-by-case basis. Where the prosecutors are unable to resolve a disagreement over handling, the civilian prosecutors will have the final say.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Director of Service Prosecutions and the civilian prosecutors are currently working on a draft protocol, with consultation to launch shortly after this has been agreed.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4855", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sarah Atherton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wrexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sarah Atherton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-10-21T10:20:27.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-10-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Prosecutions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made on agreeing a protocol for the prosecution of serious crimes in the service justice system where there is concurrent jurisdiction.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/400", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Healey"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wentworth and Dearne"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Healey"} ], "uin" : "61738"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 6, "type" : "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"} }