Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Veterans

Monday 12 December 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister highlights ongoing work of Op Courage to assist veterans with difficulties.
  • Government support for armed forces community mentioned in response to concerns raised.
  • MOD works closely with service charities to ensure veterans access cost of living support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The Royal British Legion has issued 20% more basic support grants, while Help for Heroes reports a 28% increase in requests for help due to rising costs. Ealing Ex-Servicemen's Club also highlights issues related to veterans' mental health.

Question

Why is the MOD not allocating specific funding for veterans' cost of living and associated issues this year? When will it match Labour's promise to increase veterans' mental health support by £55 million, to protect those who protected us?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

I am pleased that the hon. Lady raises mental health, which is a passion of mine, particularly in relation to the armed forces. I hope she will welcome the ongoing work of Op Courage to help our veterans who run into difficulties. It is only reasonable to point out that most of our service community are very well both in mind and in body. However, Op Courage was designed to look after those who are not. I hope she will welcome the extra £2.7 million to expand Op Courage services to better help those to whom we owe so much.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about specific funding allocation and matching Labour's pledge, but the response focused on existing efforts without addressing these specifics.

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Q2 Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South
NHS Veterans
Context

Armed forces charities report that 90% of veterans who attempt to claim the personal independence payment for post-traumatic stress disorder are rejected, leaving many facing suicide, homelessness or food bank reliance.

Question

Why is it always veterans who are left until last and have to rely on charity for assistance? Some 90% of veterans who try to claim the personal independence payment for PTSD are rejected, according to armed forces charities. It can make up to 50% of their income, and rejections leave veterans attempting suicide, facing homelessness or relying on food banks.

Answer from Andrew Murrison

I hope the hon. Gentleman was listening to and approved of my earlier answers on the support that Government are giving to our armed forces community. I hope he will take note, because it is important to understand the facts around suicide and mental health in the armed forces community. If he is not familiar with the recent Manchester University study on suicide, he may be interested to read it. I will be more than happy to send him a copy or arrange a briefing.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about delays in support and high rejection rates for PIP claims, but the response avoided these issues by directing attention towards mental health facts and studies.

How: Changed Subject To General Statistics, Offered Briefing Instead Of Direct Answer

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Q3 Rebecca Long-Bailey Lab Salford
Veterans
Context

Veterans charities report a significant rise in demand for basic support grants. A survey by Help for Heroes found that 82% of respondents are worried about the cost of living, with one in eight using food banks in the past year. The Royal British Legion reports that 14% of veterans aged 65 or over have turned off heating to save money when it's too cold.

Question

Can the Minister assure me that he is providing support to those services delivered by veterans charities to ensure that veterans and their families can access cost of living support?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The hon. Lady takes a very close interest in these matters, for which I am grateful. Of course the MOD works closely with service charities, with whom we have an almost constant dialogue in terms of their caseload to ensure that we do the best we can for our veterans. It is worth bearing in mind that veterans are civilians and are entitled to the same Government initiatives to ease their position in the current crisis as any other member of general public, as I said in my earlier remarks.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for assurance about specific support provided by the government, but the response was general and did not commit to specifics.

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Q4 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Veterans
Context

Veterans are facing increased mortgage costs, rising bills, and many are reliant on universal credit. Tens of thousands claim universal credit with veterans charities reporting significant demand for basic support grants.

Question

How can the Minister expect us to believe that his Government will make the UK the best place in the world in which to be a veteran when they are leaving many veterans and their families to struggle this Christmas?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

I detect a theme in the line of questioning. I have to draw the hon. Lady's attention to the remarks that I made earlier and to the package of assistance that the Government have provided for all citizens. The focus of defence, of course, in accordance with the military covenant, must be to ease the condition of people who have suffered specifically as a result of their service in the armed forces, which, although most members of our armed forces community are robust mentally and physically, means that particular attention must be paid to those who may have been damaged in some way physically or mentally by virtue of their service. That is what we are resolved to do, and hence, in particular, our support for Op Courage.

Not addressed: The questioner challenged the government's claim about making the UK a top place for veterans due to current struggles, but the response avoided specifics by referencing general assistance packages without addressing veteran-specific issues directly.

How: Changed Subject To General Assistance, Referenced Earlier Remarks

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