Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Covenant

Monday 1 February 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department introduced measures in the Armed Forces Bill to further incorporate the armed forces covenant into legislation.
  • Registered service children in England receive a 310 service pupil premium per child per year up to year 11.
  • The Minister for Defence Procurement will write to Stephen Morgan regarding the arbitration process for housing issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Ansell Con
Defence Veterans
Context

The question arises from the commitment to enshrine the armed forces covenant into law, as mentioned in the Queen's Speech.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to further enshrine the armed forces covenant into law?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

As committed to in the Queen's Speech, last week measures to further incorporate the armed forces covenant into legislation were introduced in the Armed Forces Bill. The Bill requires those public bodies in scope to consider the principles of the covenant when developing policy and making decisions in health, housing and education—areas that are fundamental to service life.

Answered
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Q2 Caroline Ansell Con
Education Veterans
Context

The question builds on the previous discussion about enshrining the armed forces covenant in law, focusing specifically on the duty towards and support measures for service children's education.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for his response, and I am very pleased with that support for the family, which is very much in the spirit of our military covenant. What duty will be applied to education, and what support measures are in place for the children of our military families to support their learning in schools both while the parent is serving and later when a veteran?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning on this issue. Registered service children in the annual school census in England receive the £310 service pupil premium per child per year up to year 11. Since 2016, registered service children, even if their serving parent has left the armed forces, continue to receive the SPP for up to six years while they attend state schools in England.

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Q3 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Defence Housing
Context

The question addresses the issue of housing satisfaction and rent renegotiations, specifically regarding the arbitration process for Annington Homes.

Question

One of the ways that enshrining the covenant in law could deliver more for our armed forces is on housing. Surveys continue to show low levels of satisfaction with maintenance, and the Government renegotiate the rents on some accommodation. Will the Minister provide an update on the arbitration process for Annington Homes, and can he assure those living in service family accommodation that he will not bring back a deal that hikes up their rent?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We are currently in the process, as the hon. Member knows, of resolution in that case, and I am not going to comment on it in a public forum, but my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement will write to him this afternoon.

Not addressed: specific details about arbitration process and assurances regarding rent increases

How: Not Commenting Publicly

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