Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has said the Ministry of Defence is holding talks this week aimed at reaching an out-of-court settlement with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender former service members who are pursuing a high court legal challenge. The litigation concerns a compensation scheme under which some veterans were to receive payments of up to £50,000 after being forced to resign because of their sexuality.
The dispute has arisen because rules governing the scheme have prevented a number of eligible veterans from receiving the full payments. Those affected have launched a challenge in the high court arguing that the rules are unlawful and have left them without the redress they were promised for historic discrimination.
Legal challenge
Lawyers for the claimants have taken the matter to the high court, where the case seeks to overturn the MoD’s decisions that blocked certain veterans’ awards. Streeting told the Guardian that, while the litigation proceeds, the department was engaging in discussions this week in an effort to resolve the matter without further protracted court proceedings.
Government response and next steps
The MoD’s move to seek an out-of-court resolution represents an attempt to address individual claims that the rules have excluded from payment those who say they were forced out of service because of their sexuality. It is not yet clear whether talks will produce a settlement acceptable to the claimants or whether the case will proceed to a full hearing in the high court. Further details of the negotiations and any proposed remedies have not been disclosed publicly.