Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024

Monday 28 March 2022 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Caroline Dinenage inquired about recent discussions on the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan, which includes over 60 policy commitments and 70 million in additional investment.
  • Caroline Dinenage suggested changing the plan's headline to highlight veterans as excellent employees, a point the Minister supported and thanked her for her work in supporting veterans.
  • Dan Jarvis questioned the practice of pursuing veterans for NHS costs, expressing concern over the treatment of service veterans who have risked their lives for the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
Veterans
Context

The question arises from discussions on the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024, which includes over £70 million of additional investment.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on the “Veterans' Strategy Action Plan: 2022 to 2024.”

Answer from Leo Docherty

I am pleased to have regular discussions with colleagues across Government on our veterans' strategy action plan, which contains more than 60 policy commitments amounting to £70 million of additional investment on priorities, including employment, data, skills and healthcare. We continue to work closely with other Departments, research academics and service charities at all levels to deliver its commitments.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
Veterans
Context

96% of veterans make a successful transition to civilian careers within six months, yet the plan does not highlight this until page 32.

Question

Although 96% of our veterans make a successful transition to a civilian career within six months of leaving the forces, it is not until page 32 that the plan talks about promoting a positive image of them. Can we change the headline here to “Service veterans are excellent people to employ”?

Answer from Leo Docherty

My hon. Friend has afforded me a useful opportunity to make exactly that point, but I must first thank her for the magnificent work that she does in support of her armed forces community and veterans in Gosport. The reason there is such high demand for veterans in all sectors is that they make brilliant employees: military service does indeed give members of the armed forces skills for life.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP's specific request to change the headline was not directly addressed, despite acknowledgment of the issue.

How: Thank You, Opportunity To Make A Point

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
NHS Veterans
Context

The issue concerns pursuing a Commonwealth veteran for £36,000 in NHS costs.

Question

I am sure that pursuing a Commonwealth veteran for 36 grand in NHS costs is not part of the MOD's strategy. Does the Minister agree that it is wrong for someone who has served our country and risked his life in Iraq and Afghanistan to be treated in this way and, if he does, will he work with me and with others to put it right?

Answer from Leo Docherty

I do agree that it is wrong and I look forward to updating the hon. Gentleman personally about that case in particular.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP's request for concrete action was not addressed beyond agreement on principle.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Veterans
Context

The veterans strategy commits to ending rough sleeping among veterans by the end of 2024, but no plan or data is available.

Question

The veterans strategy commits the Government to ending veteran rough sleeping by the end of 2024. Can the Minister tell the House how many veterans are currently sleeping rough and, if he cannot, how does he intend to meet that target with no plan, no resources and no data?

Answer from Leo Docherty

We do have a plan and it is reflected in the fact that the armed forces covenant is now deliverable by all local authorities. It has teeth as a result of the statutory guidance that we have delivered, and for which we have legislated for the first time ever. At local authority level, which is where these services are delivered, we have brought real, tangible change of which we can be very proud.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP's specific request for current data on rough sleeping veterans was not addressed.

How: Statutory Guidance, Legislation

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email