Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Forces Families

Monday 5 July 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 4 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steve Brine inquired about steps being taken to support UK armed forces personnel families, focusing on childcare, education continuity, and sustainable accommodation, particularly for those at Worthy Down.
  • The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded contracts up to 2.1 billion for maintenance services across the UK estate to address underinvestment and improve conditions for service families.
  • Stewart McDonald asked about increasing childcare subsidies for personnel and their families, noting the current subsidy of 2,000 is insufficient compared to actual costs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Brine Con
Defence Housing Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the need to support families who bear significant burdens due to their relatives serving in the military.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support the families of UK armed forces personnel. I am concerned about ensuring that service families have access to childcare, education continuity, and sustainable accommodation, especially those living at Worthy Down in my constituency.

Answer from Ben Wallace

It is my mission that they get the accommodation that they deserve. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded contracts up to £2.1 billion for maintenance services across the UK estate, reflecting increased investment announced in the integrated review to address underinvestment and enable improvements for our armed forces and their families.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Lewer Con
Veterans
Context

There is a need to ensure that all eligible personnel are aware of the Continuity of Education Allowance available to both officers and non-commissioned officers.

Question

What steps are being taken to ensure that eligible personnel know about the Continuity of Education Allowance, which supports young people from military families? The vast majority of these young people are a great asset to schools they attend.

Answer from Ben Wallace

The Continuity of Education Allowance is available to all ranks, and we encourage as many people as possible to take it up. Service personnel may qualify based on eligibility criteria, and they are encouraged to seek advice from their chain of command if they wish to utilise the allowance.

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Q3 Steve Brine Con
Defence
Context

Ensuring that service families can live in the modern, sustainable accommodation they deserve is a critical issue.

Question

Can the Secretary of State confirm it is his mission to ensure every service family gets the accommodation they deserve? The families are the backbone of military personnel across the UK.

Answer from Ben Wallace

It is my mission that they get the accommodation that they deserve. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded contracts up to £2.1 billion for maintenance services across the UK estate, reflecting increased investment announced in the integrated review to address underinvestment and enable improvements for our armed forces and their families.

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Q4 Stewart McDonald SNP
Children & Families
Context

Families of service personnel often face significant childcare costs, sometimes three times the amount provided by the Government.

Question

Will the Secretary of State increase the childcare subsidy available to personnel and their families? The current subsidy is £2,000 but families are spending much more on childcare costs.

Answer from Ben Wallace

We are increasing spending on wraparound childcare to over £165 million a year for families with children up to 11 years old, reflecting that most service personnel do not have a nine-to-five job and it will help them considerably. In fact, where we have run the pilots this has been incredibly popular.

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Q5 Stewart McDonald SNP
Defence Employment
Context

Helping the spouses of service personnel find good-quality work is largely left to third-sector organisations, while Canada has a successful in-house model.

Question

Will our Government look at bringing an in-house employment network like Canada's spousal employment network in-house? The current situation leaves it to the third sector despite their efforts.

Answer from Ben Wallace

We are working on a families' strategy and his suggestion is exactly an area we are focusing on. We need to reinvigorate such organisations whether through the state or a blend of non-governmental organisations, charities, volunteers, and the state.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges the issue but does not commit to a specific action like bringing an in-house employment network similar to Canada's model.

How: Working On A Families' Strategy

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