Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans Welfare Service

Monday 21 September 2020 · 10 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Veterans Welfare Service continues to provide support services to veterans during the covid-19 pandemic.
  • Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust replaced LIBOR funding for charities and grassroots organizations supporting armed forces and veterans.
  • The Government has provided additional funding to the charity sector and moved veterans UK services online to help those experiencing challenges due to lockdown measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Atherton
Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about providing effective welfare services for veterans.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to provide an effective welfare service for veterans.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Veterans Welfare Service continues to provide the full range of support services to veterans during the covid-19 pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and measures not detailed

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Q2 Henry Smith Con
Veterans
Context

The MP highlighted the establishment of the Crawley Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club, seeking support from the government.

Question

What specific support can be provided to such grassroots groups that support our armed forces and veterans personnel?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

When LIBOR funding came to an end two years ago, it was replaced by something called the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. It is administered in a professional way, and all charities and such grassroots organisations can now bid into it for grants.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support not detailed

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Q3 Simon Jupp
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP welcomed the Royal Marines family centre at Lympstone and inquired about additional support provided during the pandemic.

Question

Could the Minister outline what further support the Government have provided during the pandemic, particularly for those experiencing exacerbated challenges due to lockdown measures?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We have seen under this Government a significant transition to looking after our people through a number of schemes that they are benefiting from. We provide an extra £6 million in funding to the charity sector, but of course there is always more to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support measures not detailed

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Q4 Alan Mak Con Havant
NHS Employment Veterans
Context

The MP highlighted Captain Tom Moore's fundraising efforts and inquired about additional support.

Question

What additional welfare support is my hon. Friend's Department providing to veterans in Havant and across the country to access vital services and to find work?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We have moved a lot of our veterans UK services online, bringing online earlier this year the complex treatment service and I am bringing the high intensity service online later this year. There are some extremely good examples around now of initiatives to help veterans find work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support measures not detailed

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Q5 Sarah Atherton
Veterans
Context

The MP highlighted the work of Salute Her, a charity supporting female veterans.

Question

Does the Minister agree that women service leavers are a hidden population with certain unmet needs? Will the Ministry commit to working with me to tackle these problems?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I am clear that there are some very good veterans provisions in this country, but there are areas where we need to do a lot better. I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to continue my work with Forward Assist.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment not detailed

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Q6 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Context

The MP inquired about a follow-up review of the Wigston report which highlighted issues.

Question

Why is a review taking place of the Wigston review that was published just over a year ago? Why are charities excluded from this review?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The reason we are doing that is very clear. I am aware that, within Government, we are very good at doing reviews, but seeing the impact of those reviews in the real world is something else.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Purpose and scope not detailed

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Q7 Julie Elliott Lab
Veterans
Context

The MP thanked Veterans in Crisis for their work and requested additional financial support.

Question

Will the Government pledge to look at providing more financial support from central Government for services to veterans?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We are undoubtedly going through a transition at this time in terms of veterans' care. For too long we have over-relied on the third sector, and that responsibility is slowly shifting towards the state.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Financial support not pledged

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Q8 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
NHS Veterans
Context

Combat Stress and other organisations have reported funding cuts, and the Minister promised to meet them. The situation has worsened with the start of the covid-19 pandemic.

Question

In January this year, I raised the issue that Combat Stress and other charities assisting veterans faced a risk of serious mental health problems among veterans due to funding cuts. Since then, with the onset of the pandemic, what extra assessment has been made by the Minister on these risks?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I speak with service charities daily and note a shift from third sector reliance to state responsibility in veterans' care. We have the transition liaison programme, complex treatment service, and high-intensity services coming later this year. I monitor figures daily and am determined to ensure these three streams are world leaders in mental health care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific additional assessments made since the start of the pandemic

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Q9 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The Office for National Statistics reported one in five adults experiencing depression during the pandemic, with increased demand from veterans' charities. The Minister previously discussed veteran care.

Question

In June, ONS reported that nearly 20% of adults are likely to be experiencing some form of depression due to the pandemic. Given this and previous discussions on mental health for veterans, what steps is the Department taking to ensure all veterans, serving personnel, and service families receive support during these difficult times?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We are looking to launch a strategy with the NHS later this year that highlights a seamless care pathway for service personnel and their families from before joining through to after service. It aims to make services understandable and accountable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific concrete steps being taken by the Department

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Q10 Marie Rimmer Lab St Helens South and Whiston
Mental Health Veterans
Context

A veteran named Wesley McDonnell, who served for nearly two decades, tragically took his own life. The questioner requests a health and wellbeing pathway to assess mental health needs before discharge.

Question

Wesley McDonnell, a 35-year-old veteran who served almost 20 years, decided to take his own life in my local park. There are still many others like him facing similar struggles. Can the Minister commit to improving the spirit of the armed forces covenant by tasking the MOD with developing a health and wellbeing pathway that includes assessment, diagnosis, and mental health needs commissioning prior to discharge?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Any veteran suicide is tragic. We have made progress; mandatory mental health training will be delivered annually in every unit by January, alongside work with the Royal Foundation to change the environment for resilience and fitness.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to developing a specific pathway as requested

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