Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Covenant: Military Charities

Monday 1 February 2021 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions aim to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant through legislative measures.
  • Service charities provide annual observations on the progress of the Armed Forces Covenant.
  • Legislation aims to enhance rights and protections for soldiers in modern warfare.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Defence Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about recent discussions with military charities on strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant.

Question

What recent discussions have been had with representatives of military charities on strengthening the armed forces covenant; and if he will make a statement.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

This Government are committed to strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant with measures to further incorporate it into law introduced last week in the Armed Forces Bill. Service charities play an integral role for the armed forces community, providing observations on our progress each year in an unadulterated version of the covenant annual report.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on recent discussions with military charities and concrete plans to make a statement were not provided.

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Q2 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Veterans
Context

Local authorities in the MP's constituency are among the first to adopt the military covenant, but concerns have been raised about a six-year longstop breach of the covenant.

Question

I, too, send my best wishes to Captain Sir Tom Moore for a speedy recovery. I have long been a supporter of the military covenant, and the local authorities in my constituency are among the first to adopt it, but the Minister will know that the director general of the Royal British Legion told the Committee considering the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill that the six-year longstop will breach the military covenant. Why does he think they say that?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The person to whom the hon. Gentleman refers actually supports the legislation and it does not breach the Armed Forces Covenant. The Bill gives soldiers more rights and protects them better for modern warfare, and those who continue to peddle untruths about that Bill are doing a serious disservice.

Not addressed: The specific concerns raised about the six-year longstop were not addressed; instead, the response was critical of those raising concerns.

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Q3 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Mental Health Local Government Veterans
Context

In Sheffield, extra priority is given to ex-servicemen when it comes to social housing and there is a wraparound service including employment and skills, and mental health.

Question

I am sure that the Minister will agree that local authorities play an important role in implementing the national covenant. In Sheffield, extra priority is given to ex-servicemen when it comes to the right to social housing. There is also a wraparound service that includes employment and skills, and mental health. All that is overseen by a council-appointed ex-servicemen's champion who works with local charities; they all work closely together. I am sure that the Minister will agree that charities and the council working together in that way is a model for the implementation of the national covenant.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I pay tribute to Tony and to many like him across the country who work tirelessly in the endeavour of veterans' care. The future of veterans' care is a blended model between statutory and voluntary provision, where there is a role for everybody until we get everyone accessing that care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about whether collaboration was a model was not directly answered; instead, the response focused on general principles.

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Q4 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Veterans
Context

There are an estimated 265 war widows who lost their war widow's pension on cohabitation or remarriage and have not been able to benefit from the change in law.

Question

Part of the armed forces covenant is, of course, to look after war widows, including an estimated 265 who lost their war widow's pension on cohabitation or remarriage and have not been able to benefit from the change in the law preventing that from happening. I know that the Minister and the Secretary of State personally have been fighting with the Treasury to find a way to settle this debt of honour. In the light of the latest knock-back, what further plans do Ministers have to try to make good their promise to look after those war widows, who have sacrificed so much?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Secretary of State has taken a personal lead and has recently written to Mary Moreland. The Department is currently considering how we can best support those represented through her War Widows Association, and what that support might look like.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While noting action taken, the specific plans requested were not detailed.

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Q5 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Local Government Veterans
Context

Many local authorities already support service personnel, veterans and their families, but having the covenant in law will enhance those responsibilities.

Question

I have been speaking to a number of local authorities about their commitment to the armed forces covenant. We already know that many local authorities do a really great job of supporting service personnel, veterans and their families, but having the covenant in law will enhance those responsibilities. When there are more legal responsibilities, will Government funding to local authorities follow?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Department is looking to issue statutory guidance on how precisely these matters will be achieved. The legislation ensures that a set of principles are adhered to, designed never for advantage but to prevent disadvantage for veterans and their families.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment was made regarding increased funding; the response focused on the purpose of the covenant.

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