Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

The following guidance is provided in Joint Service Publication 831 (Redress of Individual Grievances: Service Complaints) for complaint handlers should it be considered that a complaint may be vexatious:

All complaints are to be taken seriously and handled professionally and with consideration. If it is considered that a complaint may be vexatious, legal advice should be sought before making a decision on admissibility. Decision makers will need to consider if the complaint is substantially the same as a Service Complaint that has already been submitted and which has either been decided previously under the Service Complaints system or is currently being considered under the Service Complaints Process.

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

The funding for the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) is provided wholly through the Ministry of Defence’s Head Office and Corporate Services Top Level Budget (TLB) and agreed annually. The Ombudsman has discretion over how those funds are used and publishes details of expenditure in their annual report to Parliament.

Since the creation of the role of the SCOAF in 2016, each of their annual reports to Parliament have included, as an appendix, a financial statement detailing expenditure incurred for that year. This information can be accessed on the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/application-forms-factsheets-and-pamphlets/scoaf-annual-reports

Whilst the projected budget for Financial Year 2025-26 has not yet been confirmed, we would expect this to be broadly the same as the previous year. Further information on their budget and allocation can be found in the SCOAF Business Plan on the SCOAF’s website: https://www.scoaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/scoaf_business_plan_2024_25.pdf

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

All Serving personnel, defined in the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill as any individual subject to Service law, whether in the UK or overseas, will be entitled to raise a general welfare matter or a Service Complaint with the Commissioner.

The Commissioner may investigate general service welfare matters that arise in connection with the ongoing service of persons subject to service law and which may materially affect the welfare of those persons or relevant family members. Provided a matter falls into this scope, it is at the Commissioner’s discretion what they investigate, and this would likely be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Members of the Reserve Forces and personnel undertaking a leave of absence will be entitled to raise a matter with the Commissioner, provided the Commissioner considers that the matter falls within the scope outlined above.

The Bill includes permissive extent clauses to allow the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to choose if they want to extend this legislation into their own statute books.

No amendments are anticipated to the Reserve Forces Act 1996.

There will be no additional restrictions on the £2.9 billion increase in funding for the next financial year. The allocation of funding for financial year 2025-26 has yet to take place.