Cost of Living Armed Forces Personnel 2022-07-18
2022-07-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The rise in the cost of living has led to increased expenses for armed forces personnel, prompting concerns about their financial stability.
What recent assessment has the Department made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on armed forces personnel?
Our mitigating measures include a freeze of the daily food charge, limiting the increase in accommodation charges to 1%, and ensuring that the council tax rebate of £150 reaches more than 28,000 armed forces personnel. We are also bringing in wraparound childcare for the new school year.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The cost of a new £250 million royal yacht has raised concerns about its funding during the current economic crisis, especially when personnel have not received real-term rises for years.
Will the Minister confirm that the cost of a new £250 million royal yacht is not coming out of the Ministry of Defence budget during a cost of living crisis when personnel have not received a real-terms rise and bases in Scotland have been closed?
The hon. Lady makes a flippant point. The serious point is that this new vessel will deliver jobs right across the United Kingdom.
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Assessment & feedback
cost of living crisis and funding for royal yacht project
Flippant Point
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Veterans over 65 in low-income households miss out on pension credit due to their war disablement pension being considered as normal income, despite not receiving real-term rises.
What steps is the Minister taking to persuade his counterpart at the Department for Work and Pensions to address this anomaly, to help our veterans cope with the rise in the cost of living?
We take any potential anomaly extremely seriously and I would be pleased to meet the hon. and learned Lady to discuss that specific case. It is a bit rich to be told to take lessons on the cost of living from the Scottish National party, given its tax hike on armed forces personnel.
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Assessment & feedback
specific steps to address pension anomaly
Bit Rich
Tax Hike
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government's own figures show that at least 33,000 veterans are on universal credit, and estimates suggest the actual figure could be double that. Despite this, the Government's veterans strategy cuts specialist employment support.
Why does the Government's veterans strategy cut specialist employment support in jobcentres by 50%, which would help veterans on universal credit who are out of work get back into employment?
We on the Conservative Benches will not perpetuate the myth that receiving universal credit is a bad thing. Many of these people are in high-paid and good jobs. It is a reflection of the fact that this Government support people into work and that military service gives them skills for life.
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Assessment & feedback
specific reasons for cutting employment support
Not Perpetuate The Myth
Response accuracy