Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Veterans

Wednesday 4 December 2024 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister for Veterans and People is leading efforts to ensure parity of services for veterans across the nations.
  • Prime Minister announced giving veterans a social housing exemption, bringing England in line with Scotland.
  • Minister assured commitment to prioritising shipbuilding on the Clyde and defence jobs across Scotland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Scotland Veterans
Context

The question arises from the need to ensure that veterans receive appropriate support across all regions, particularly highlighting the situation in Scotland.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support veterans in Scotland?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

This Government are fully committed to delivering for veterans, and I pay tribute to them and their families for the sacrifices they make during their service, as well as their valued contribution to our society after they leave. The Minister for Veterans and People, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Al Carns), is leading work across Government, and with the Scottish Government, to ensure veterans and their families can access all the support they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps taken by Cabinet colleagues to help support veterans in Scotland are not detailed

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Q2 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Scotland Veterans
Context

The question focuses on the uneven distribution of resources and support for veterans in different regions, with specific concern about Scotland.

Question

There is significant variability in the provision of veteran services across the nations. What steps is the Secretary of State taking, alongside his Cabinet colleagues, to ensure parity of services across the nations, and in particular in Scotland?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

The Minister for Veterans and People is leading this work. The Prime Minister recently made an announcement on giving veterans a social housing exemption, which, I can confirm, will bring England in line with Scotland, where veterans are already exempt from the local connection requirement to access social housing. We are creating a level playing field across the nations to support veterans, as I mentioned in my first answer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps being taken by Cabinet colleagues for parity of services across the nations is not detailed

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Q3 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Veterans
Context

The question highlights the importance of community events, specifically in Keighley where a memorial to WWI fallen is being unveiled.

Question

Since 1921, the Royal British Legion Scotland has supported veterans and their families through education, remembrance and direct support. This weekend, in my constituency in Keighley, the town council and community groups are unveiling a memorial to the fallen of the first world war, with a time capsule placed under the cenotaph to be opened in 100 years. Does the Minister agree that events such as these, which bring together the whole community, are of vital importance for our veterans—not only in Keighley, but in Scotland and across the wider United Kingdom?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to the volunteers who often run these events. I also draw the House's attention to the work of the War Memorials Trust, which is one of the many unsung organisations that do incredible work across this country to maintain war memorials so that we all may remember. Across this House, we have many veterans and those who have served; I pay tribute to them all, and in particular to the 13 Members on the Government Benches who are veterans or reservists.

Not addressed: The specific question about community events' importance was not directly addressed

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Q4 Zubir Ahmed Lab Glasgow South West
Defence
Context

The question focuses on ensuring that defence industry activities continue to be supported in Glasgow, a critical area for shipbuilding.

Question

Last week, I had the honour of attending the steel-cutting ceremony of HMS Sheffield at BAE Govan in my constituency, adding to a long list in the tradition of building high-quality defence industry vessels on the Clyde. What assurances can the Minister give me that defence procurement and skills will continue to be developed on the Clyde?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

I can give my hon. Friend the firmest of assurances that we will continue to prioritise shipbuilding on the Clyde, and indeed defence jobs across Scotland.

Answered
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