Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans and Military Charities: Additional Support

Monday 20 September 2021 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government announced an additional 5 million for veterans and military charities on 6 September 2021.
  • Op Courage, a bespoke mental health provision in the NHS, is running at 20 million this year for veterans.
  • The Minister recommended that the Newton Aycliffe veterans community hub consider applying to the armed forces covenant trust fund for support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gary Sambrook
Veterans
Context

The MP is inquiring about an assessment made by the Department on additional support for veterans and military charities.

Question

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the additional support for veterans and military charities announced on 6 September 2021.

Answer from Leo Docherty

The Government are committed to providing a gold standard of support for veterans. The additional £5 million announced on 6 September followed a meeting of the Defence Secretary, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, me and the service charities to discuss measures to mitigate the impact of events in Afghanistan. That is on top of the £20 million already going to armed forces charities this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an assessment of adequacy but gave context and figures

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Q2 Lee Anderson Reform Ashfield
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about the specific targeted mental health support for veterans living on streets.

Question

Sadly, some veterans end up living on our streets. The solution is not just to give them a bed, a job or a roof over their head; what they need is real, targeted mental health support. Will my hon. Friend please advise me what the Government are doing to make sure that our brave veterans get the targeted mental health support they richly deserve?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I am pleased to confirm that, in the form of Op Courage, we have bespoke mental health provision in the NHS, now running at £20 million this year. But this is not just about money; it is about ensuring that veterans are part of that care, and as peer support workers in Op Courage, they are.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify targeted mental health support but mentioned existing provisions

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Q3 Paul Howell
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP wants to commend and inquire about the support for a veterans' community hub recently opened by local figures.

Question

Will the Minister explain specifically how these announcements will help the veterans community hub recently opened in Newton Aycliffe by the lord lieutenant, Sue Snowdon, and veteran Scott Robertson? That fantastic facility provides mental health support, occupational rehabilitation and sports therapy. Will the Minister commend all those involved with the project, but specifically veterans Scott Robertson and Tommy Lowther? While I am about it, will the Minister also thank 100-year-old RAF veteran William Cooksey, who completed a 100-mile walk—10 miles for each of 10 days —to support County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, raising over £3,000? If the Minister would like to come and visit, he would be very welcome.

Answer from Leo Docherty

I am delighted to put on the record my thanks to veterans Scott Robertson and Tommy Lowther, and to the 100-year-old RAF veteran William Cooksey. They are clearly the best of us. If the Newton Aycliffe hub needs support, it should consider applying to the armed forces covenant trust fund. Of course I would be delighted to visit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explain how announcements will help but thanked individuals and suggested applying for funding

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Q4 Gary Sambrook
NHS Mental Health
Context

The MP is inquiring about the provision of bespoke care packages for veterans through NHS Operation Courage.

Question

I know that my hon. Friend's top priorities are the health and wellbeing of those people who have sacrificed so much for our country, especially in respect of mental health. Can he confirm that, if people who require specialist help were to reach out to NHS Operation Courage, they would get the bespoke care packages that they need and desperately deserve?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I can confirm that, and I am pleased to do so. The provision is first class. However, we are also after a change in culture, so that those who have served know that it is the soldierly thing to do to ask for help.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm getting bespoke care packages but mentioned cultural changes needed

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Q5 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about the role of charities in supporting veterans, seeking a commitment to Labour's proposed duty of care amendment.

Question

The Minister must know that 79% of charities believe that the responsibility to support veterans should lie more with the Government and the armed forces themselves. Will he commit to looking in detail at Labour's proposed duty of care amendment to the Armed Forces Bill, which aims to do precisely that?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I actually commend the long and noble tradition that we have of armed forces charities assisting the Government in their response to supporting veterans, and I am pleased that our support to them this year will top out at more than £20 million.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to looking at the amendment but praised charities' role

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Q6 Carol Monaghan SNP
Veterans
Context

The MP is inquiring about the next scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board.

Question

The Ministerial Covenant and Veterans Board is supposed to drive forward and co-ordinate better Government support for members of the armed forces, their families and veterans. The Scottish Government have asked repeatedly for that group to be reconvened. When can we expect its next meeting to take place?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I am happy to confirm that that meeting will take place within the next couple of weeks.

Answered
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Q7 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP is raising concerns about Combat Stress charity's income drop and the adequacy of recent government announcements.

Question

Combat Stress, a charity supporting veterans' mental health, has seen its income fall by £6 million in the current financial year. Will the Minister therefore accept that the Government's recent announcement of £5 million for the entire sector is simply not enough to support veterans' mental health?

Answer from Leo Docherty

That is a top-up; the provision is more than £20 million. I look forward to discussing that in detail when I visit Combat Stress tomorrow.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not accept or deny adequacy but mentioned existing funding and future discussions

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