Oral QuestionMinistry of Defence

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 21 May 2026Answered: 1 June 2026

Asked by

Naushabah Khan

LabourGillingham and Rainham

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Defence

Answer from Hansard

Jonathan Reynolds

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for hosting me when I visited after the riots. I extend all my sympathies to the businesses affected. There is no excuse under any circumstances for looting shops, or in this case burning down a library. I was very much affected by my visit. He knows that we work very much in collaboration with the Association of British Insurers to ensure that claims are processed quickly. By now, I hope that businesses are aware that if they are underinsured or uninsured, help is still available to them under the Riot Compensation Act 2016, the details of which are on the gov.uk website.