Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Armed Forces Personnel

Monday 13 June 2022 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Armed forces personnel face challenges due to international inflationary pressures and cost of living issues.
  • The Government claims armed forces personnel are content with their pay and conditions, citing benefits and a 24 billion uplift.
  • The Defence Secretary acknowledges the work done for veterans in Wales, including the role of the Wales Veterans Commissioner.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Defence Economy
Context

The question arises from the rise in the cost of living affecting all citizens, including those in the military.

Question

What assessment has been made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on armed forces personnel living in Newport West constituency?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Armed forces personnel are not immune to international inflationary pressures and cost of living issues. The Defence Secretary has frozen daily food charges, limited accommodation charge increases to 1%, ensured council tax rebate reaches those in military accommodation, and increased availability of free wraparound childcare.

Answered
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Q2 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
Defence Economy
Context

According to data from the Ministry, there is a decline in personnel satisfaction regarding pay and benefits. This raises concerns about frontline force support during economic hardships.

Question

The Government are failing our frontline forces during a cost of living crisis. The percentage of personnel who believe that their pay and benefits are fair has fallen for the first time in four years, with four in 10 servicemen and servicewomen unhappy with their pay and benefits. What success has the Minister had with the Chancellor in securing the pay rise our troops need and deserve?

Answer from Leo Docherty

Armed forces personnel are content with their pay and conditions, benefiting from remarkable job security, subsidised accommodation, unique non-contributory pension, and £24 billion uplift made available by the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific success in securing a necessary pay rise was not addressed.

How: In Terms Of Measuring The Contentment Of Those Serving, The Reality That I See Day In, Day Out

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Q3 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Defence Veterans
Context

As part of commemorating the Falklands war, Ruth Jones raises concerns about the lack of compassion and practical support for armed forces personnel and veterans facing the cost of living crisis.

Question

As we commemorate 40 years since the Falklands conflict, I pay tribute to the brave soldiers who did their duty there, such as Lance Sergeant Alan Dalgleish, who lived in Newport West. But sadly, the Government's approach to welfare and livelihoods of armed forces personnel and veterans is lacking in both compassion and practical support. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the impact that the Tory cost of living crisis is having on forces personnel living in Newport West?

Answer from Leo Docherty

The Defence Secretary will speak more about the Falklands and joins in commendation of veterans. On her question, I recognise the work done specifically in Wales, including the independent Wales Veterans Commissioner to improve lives of veterans there.

Not addressed: Request for a meeting regarding cost of living impacts on local military personnel was not addressed.

How: I Do Not Recognise That Characterisation, I Hope That She, Like Me, Is Very Pleased

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