Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans

Monday 8 January 2024 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The MOD provides pensions, compensation, advice, and assistance to veterans through the Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Services.
  • Veteran homelessness remains a priority for the Government, though it is not principally the function of the Ministry of Defence.
  • The MOD will engage with representatives from Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees in working groups to set the direction for future support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Davies Con
Veterans
Context

The MP is concerned about support measures for veterans.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support veterans. The MOD provides pensions, compensation, advice and assistance through the Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Services, as well as integrated personal commissioning.

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The MOD delivers a range of services to veterans and their families. This includes the administration and payment of armed forces pensions and compensation, the provision of tailored advice and assistance through the Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Services, and integrated personal commissioning for veterans.

Answered
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Q2 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Housing Veterans
Context

Homelessness among veterans has risen by 14% according to official figures. The MP challenges the Minister for Veterans' Affairs' pledge.

Question

Veteran homelessness rose by 14% last year according to the Government's own figures. Does the Minister agree that his colleague, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, is failing to deliver on his pledge to end veteran homelessness?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The hon. Lady will be aware that homelessness is not principally a function of the Ministry of Defence, but all of us want to make sure that veterans and their families are properly accommodated, and naturally reducing homelessness remains a Government priority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledges issue but does not address specific failure mentioned

How: Not Principally A Function

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Q3 Robin Millar
Veterans
Context

The MP's private Member's Bill gives the Secretary of State greater flexibility to use VAPCs. The MP wants updates on progress.

Question

Thirteen veterans advisory and pensions committees across the UK provide the Minister's Department with an important platform for hearing and helping veterans. Can the Minister tell the House what progress he has made with the VAPCs since my Bill received royal assent?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

First, let me congratulate my hon. Friend on his work on the Bill, which should properly be called the Millar Bill. I recently met VAPC chairs to discuss next steps, and we will ensure that the MOD engages with representatives from VAPCs in a series of working groups to set the direction for secondary legislation that will clarify their future role.

Answered
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Q4 Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley
Veterans
Context

The MP seeks details on how the Department plans to implement recommendations from a recent veteran welfare service review.

Question

Can the Minister give some more detail on how the Department intends to take forward the recommendation from the Veteran Welfare Service review, and can he outline any timescales to which he intends to work on that review?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

Our response to the independent review of welfare services for veterans accepts the principle and intended outcome of all the recommendations, and we will shortly publish our response to the recommendations of the armed forces compensation scheme quinquennial review. The reviews will inform a programme of improvements in the way we deliver the compensation scheme and how we provide welfare support to ensure a consistently high level of service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timelines or detailed plans provided

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Q5 James Davies Con
Veterans
Context

Medals are being issued to recognize participation in Britain's nuclear testing program. The MP wants details on organizing presentation ceremonies.

Question

As promised by the Prime Minister, medals are being issued to recognise those who participated in Britain's nuclear testing programme during the 1950s and 1960s. Some families have expressed a wish for a presentation ceremony for their medal. How would the Minister recommend that those are organised?

Answer from Andrew Murrison

Nuclear test medals have been mailed to thousands of recipients to ensure that as many as possible had received them before Remembrance Sunday, and also with the advanced age of some of the recipients in mind. My sense is that that was the right thing to do and has been appreciated by recipients.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific advice on organizing ceremonies provided

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Q6 Steve McCabe Lab
Housing Veterans
Context

The MP references the veterans strategy action plan and expresses dissatisfaction with current services, citing statistics on compensation scheme dissatisfaction and veteran homelessness.

Question

I spent the recess studying the veterans strategy action plan with its 60-odd commitments and thinking about the views of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs on what he calls the “lack of political horsepower”. Why is it, after 14 years and so many commitments, that 76.4% of veterans are so dissatisfied with the compensation scheme for illnesses and injuries, and why are 500 veteran households declared homeless every three months? Is there still a lack of political horsepower or is there a need for better co-ordination between the—

Answer from Andrew Murrison

The armed forces compensation scheme and the war pension scheme will be dramatically improved by the ongoing digitalisation of veterans' services. That is a huge commitment that will bring us into the 21st century and improve the service that is provided to veterans who are seeking compensation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific reasons given for high dissatisfaction rates or homelessness

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