The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to undertake a public consultation on legal protections measures for personnel deployed on operations overseas, including a statutory presumption against prosecution of current or former personnel for alleged offences committed in the course of duty abroad more than 10 years previously. Prosecutions in such circumstances would not be considered to be in the public interest, except in \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d. The presumption measure would not apply to historical alleged offences in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Defence will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Secretary on the proposals for addressing Northern Ireland legacy issues. The MOD provides veterans, including those who served in Northern Ireland, who are subject to investigation and potential prosecution with legal, welfare and pastoral support.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "252557"} , {"_value" : "252559"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-05-17T13:46:38.257Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"} , "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 plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to protect veterans accused of historic allegations relating to service in Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"} ], "uin" : "254180"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/722965", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/722965/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Defence holds information on grants made to units and charities undertaking projects with, for, and including veterans in Northern Ireland from Legacy Funds, the Covenant Fund and the Aged Veterans Fund for the years 2012-13, 2015-16 and 2016-17, broken down below.<\/p>
<\/p>
2012-13<\/strong> Organisation<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Project <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Grant <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Fund<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Ulster Defence Regiment & Royal Irish Aftercare Service<\/p><\/td> Welfare support network and advisory service for veterans and their dependants in Northern Ireland<\/p><\/td> £50,000<\/p><\/td> LIBOR Funds 2013-2016<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> 2015-16<\/strong> Organisation<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Project<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Grant<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Fund<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Ballymacanallen Community Association<\/p><\/td> Mrs Sergeant's Boys<\/p><\/td> £4,715<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 38 (Irish) Brigade<\/p><\/td> Horse-assisted coaching for empowerment, leadership<\/p><\/td> £20,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> NI Veterans Therapeutic Gardening Project<\/p><\/td> Horticultural Therapy<\/p><\/td> £37,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Combat Stress<\/p><\/td> Mental Health services for Veterans in Northern Ireland<\/p><\/td> £466,400<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> The Royal British Legion<\/p><\/td> Somme Nursing Home<\/p><\/td> £600,000<\/p><\/td> Aged Veterans Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> 2016-17<\/strong> Organisation<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Project <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Grant<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Fund<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Families Acting for Innocent Relatives<\/p><\/td> Remembrance<\/p><\/td> £10,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Rathfriland Royal British Legion Branch<\/p><\/td> Hilltop to Over the Top<\/p><\/td> £19,478<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI)<\/p><\/td> Horse-assisted coaching for confidence, leadership, anxiety reduction and communication.<\/p><\/td> £20,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Department of Community Mental Health at Thiepval Barracks<\/p><\/td> Green Care<\/p><\/td> £20,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr> AA Veterans Support<\/p><\/td> Counselling and Holistic Support Service<\/p><\/td> £20,000<\/p><\/td> Covenant Fund<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-04-25T11:33:48.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-04-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "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 the total amount of Government funding was to charities which support veterans in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "71505"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/686094", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/686094/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Defence provides free legal advice for Northern Ireland veterans facing allegations relating to their own conduct while on duty. The question of a refund should not therefore arise.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-02-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-02-13T16:06:40.16Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "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, with reference to the debate on the Armed Forces Covenant of 2 February 2017, HC column 1270, whether Operation Banner veterans in receipt of invitations to provide witness accounts will be refunded the cost of legal advice.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
], "uin" : "63543"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/657829", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/657829/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Ministry of Defence has had no discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the provisions of a 24 hour-a-day contact and referral service from veterans' charities and helplines for ex-Service personnel. However, the Covenant Fund has awarded a £2 million grant to a consortium of organisations led by The Royal British Legion and including Combat Stress, SSAFA and Poppyscotland who are working towards setting up a one-stop service to better support the UK's Armed Forces veterans community. It will give veterans, regardless of age or location, a simple point of contact to turn to for advice and help in accessing an array of public, private and charitable services and will be delivered across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-12-19T15:54:13.203Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "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 his Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on steps to ensure 24 hour-a-day help from veterans' charities and helplines for ex-service personnel.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "57466"}
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}
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