Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022-07-14
2022-07-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about the progress made by his Department on implementing the Veterans Strategy Action Plan.
What recent progress has been made on implementing the Veterans Strategy Action Plan?
A quarter of the more than 60 cross-Government commitments have been delivered to date, with recent achievements including rolling out the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme, the completion of the scoping study into digital verification, and the appointment of the first Veterans Commissioner for Wales. I will publish a formal update on progress in the autumn.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP raises concerns about veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and highlights the challenge of reaching out to those who are hard-to-reach due to pride.
What more can be done to reach and support hard-to-reach veterans suffering from PTSD?
We have now established Op Courage, the UK's first single care pathway through NHS mental health services for those who need them. It had 19,000 referrals in its first year last year. I encourage people to engage with the service to talk about their mental health and not suffer in silence.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP welcomes the Government's ambition to support veteran mental health and inquires about how a new digital verification service will contribute.
How will the new digital identification service contribute towards supporting veterans with their mental health?
The digital verification service is an extremely important part of being able to identify the veterans cohort. We are making significant progress. Alpha testing is going on now and we are looking to do beta testing next year. I am hopeful we will have something online by April next year.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific contribution towards supporting mental health was not addressed directly, focusing instead on the identification process.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about accusations that Veterans UK acts as both judge and jury, and asks if there are plans to review or conduct an inquiry into the organisation.
Are there any plans to review Veterans UK or to conduct an inquiry?
The Government have committed to a £44 million spend to turn it into a digital service, which will undoubtedly increase and improve its output. I share my hon. Friend's concern, certainly about the data on how many appeals have been overturned. I understand the processes for it, but my very clear view is that the service is not good enough for our veterans at the moment.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific plans or timeline for conducting an inquiry was not provided.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP raises concerns about veteran suicides and urges for firm action to improve mental health support.
How many more suicides of veterans will take place before we see firm action on mental health support?
The data shows that someone is statistically less likely to take their life if they have served, but every suicide is a tragedy. There is more help available now than there ever has been. The system is working, with 19,000 referrals through Op Courage last year.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or timelines for addressing veteran suicides were provided.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquires about progress on giving further statutory standing to the veterans covenant.
What progress has been made on giving further statutory standing to the veterans covenant?
This is the first Government to have brought in—through the Armed Forces Act 2021—a statutory requirement on health, housing and education. I am clear that that is a floor, not a ceiling. We are looking to expand what that legislation can do at some point.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific timeline or plan for expanding the statute was not provided.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP welcomes the Minister back and asks about funding for charities providing services to veterans.
Will sustained grant funding be made available to charities such as SSAFA?
The beauty of Op Courage is that it does precisely that: it brings order to the various charities and enables them to bid in to run contracts, so that they can run the complex treatment service, the high intensity service and the transition liaison service. It gets them on a sustainable footing.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific funding commitment was not provided, focusing instead on the system structure.
Under Review
Response accuracy