To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to acknowledge and compensate for the damage caused to individuals as a result of the former ban on homosexual people serving in the armed forces.
Answered on
19 October 2015
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) decided in January 2000 to allow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel to serve openly in the UK Armed Forces. Since that time the Department has been working to create a more inclusive culture where everyone feels valued, regardless of their sexuality. The inclusion of all three Services in Stonewall's 2015 list of the top 100 employers for LGBT personnel is testament to our success in this arena.
At the time of our decision in 2000 to change the policy on serving LGBT personnel there were four legal cases brought by LGBT personnel against the MOD which had reached the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ECHR ruled against the MOD and compensation was paid in full. Employment Tribunal applications on the same subject were also settled at the time and compensation was paid. There are no plans to provide further compensation.