Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Veterans

Monday 6 January 2025 · 8 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister thanked Jacob Collier for raising Tim Latter's work and the importance of supporting mental and physical health of veterans.
  • Danny Beales questioned the Government on the local council's commitment to the armed forces covenant regarding parking charges.
  • Charlie Dewhirst congratulated East Riding of Yorkshire council for achieving the gold award in the armed forces covenant employer recognition scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jacob Collier Lab Burton and Uttoxeter
Mental Health Veterans
Context

The MP referenced Tim Latter, a Royal Navy veteran who runs Project I Got Your Six, which helps military personnel with their mental health through fitness coaching.

Question

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Tim Latter, a Royal Navy veteran and owner of Grindhouse gym in Tatenhill. After facing his own mental health challenges, Tim set up that gym and launched Project I Got Your Six, which is an inspiring fitness coaching programme designed for the military, but also a way for people to talk openly about their mental health. What steps are this Government taking to support veterans with their mental health after their service?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

I thank my hon. Friend for a really relevant question. It is essential that we cater for both the physical and psychological impacts of service on those who have served. Op Courage has already had 35,000 referrals. I congratulate Tim Latter on the work he has done, and I would be glad to visit his gym—and perhaps do a little phys with him—to see how it helps veterans’ mental progression in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific steps or funding details for supporting veterans' mental health but acknowledged the importance and referenced existing initiatives.

How: Acknowledged The Issue, Referenced Existing Initiative

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Danny Beales Lab Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Defence Local Government Veterans
Context

The MP mentioned an unfair parking charge issue raised with him by a constituent related to military personnel and their families in service accommodation.

Question

I welcome the Government’s commitment to a new armed forces covenant. Will the provisions apply to local councils, so that we see Conservative Hillingdon council end its unfair parking charges on military personnel and their families in service accommodation—an issue that was raised with me recently when the Secretary of State visited to announce the welcome investment in military housing—and we can finally say that Hillingdon puts our heroes first?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

I thank my hon. Friend for what, again, is a very important question. I ask him to write to me on the specific issue of Hillingdon council and parking. The important underlying fact is that we have to put the covenant into law—we have made that commitment, and it will happen within the next two years. We will deliver it, and hopefully we will eradicate the postcode lottery in support to veterans across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a direct answer regarding Hillingdon council but committed to putting the covenant into law.

How: Referenced Future Commitment, Asked For Written Correspondence

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 Charlie Dewhirst Con East Riding of Yorkshire
Veterans
Context

The MP highlighted East Riding of Yorkshire council's achievement in receiving the gold award for the armed forces covenant.

Question

Will the Minister join me in congratulating East Riding of Yorkshire council on achieving the armed forces covenant employer recognition scheme gold award, and pay tribute to both the council leader Anne Handley and our armed forces champion Councillor Liam Dealtry for their roles in achieving that? Could he also tell the House what he is doing to encourage more organisations to achieve this highest standard in veterans’ support?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

I thank the hon. Member for raising that point, and congratulate the people he has mentioned on signing up to the covenant duty, which is superb. They join about 12,400 others who have given their signatures, which is a fantastic example of British society standing up to support veterans. In due course, I would like to visit and meet them when we get a chance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific initiatives or plans but acknowledged the achievement and expressed interest in visiting.

How: Acknowledged Achievement, Expressed Interest In Future Engagement

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q4 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
Housing Veterans
Context

The MP mentioned over 3,000 veterans in Shipley constituency and highlighted the issue of homeless veteran households.

Question

In Shipley constituency, there are over 3,000 veterans. I have enjoyed meeting local veterans recently, and I invite my hon. Friend to join me in thanking them for their service. However, with the number of homeless veteran households in England reaching 2,270 in the year 2023-24, will the Minister assure me that veterans in Shipley constituency will receive the housing support they need?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to the veterans of Shipley. It is essential, especially over the Christmas period and the next three or four months, that anyone who needs a roof over their head has one. That is why Op Fortitude is really moving at pace: we have had just under 3,000 referrals, and over 800 veterans have been put into housing. I would say that if anyone has any veterans in their constituency, please get them to go on to gov.uk and look at the services available. There are plenty of services out there to get those individuals into housing as fast as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister referenced Op Fortitude but did not provide direct assurance for veterans in Shipley constituency.

How: Referenced Existing Initiative

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q5 Sarah Dyke Lib Dem Glastonbury and Somerton
NHS Veterans
Context

Service Dogs UK, a charity supporting armed forces and emergency services veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, has been matching rescue dogs with veterans in Somerset and the wider south-west since 2020.

Question

Will the Minister join me in congratulating Service Dogs UK on their work? Will the Government support such charities to expand their crucial work?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

The charity has my full congratulations on the work it is doing. Having pets such as a dog provides psychological comfort and friends, especially for people healing from some of the psychological impacts of service or indeed combat, and I fully support it. If the hon. Member would like to discuss at a later date how we could push that forward, she should please reach out to me.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q6 Jim Allister TUV North Antrim
Northern Ireland Veterans
Context

A new veterans commissioner, Mr David Johnstone, was announced for Northern Ireland before Christmas. The position is part-time and has only two seconded staff members, unlike statutory posts elsewhere.

Question

Will the Government put the post of veterans commissioner on a statutory basis in Northern Ireland to ensure that many veterans there can have the service they deserve?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

I thank the hon. and learned Member for his important question. First, we must get the armed forces covenant into law, which should cover a large proportion of the veteran support mechanism. I congratulate David Johnstone on taking up his post; I phoned him just before the Christmas recess. I am excited and looking forward to working with him and ensuring that the unique attributes of veterans in Northern Ireland are accounted for and represented in the correct manner.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to making the position statutory but stated they will work with the new commissioner.

How: Looking Forward To Working, Accounted For And Represented

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q7 Jess Brown-Fuller Lib Dem Chichester
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

Maggie Haynes, a veteran herself, founded Tuppenny Barn in the constituency of Chichester. The charity offers horticultural therapy and specifically established a female veterans course to address challenges faced by women leaving military service.

Question

What is the Minister doing to improve support for female veterans?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

We are working on our armed forces strategy, part of which will be a specific section for female veterans. We understand the nuances and difficulties of female veterans leaving service and trying to find employment or linking employment with family life and so forth, so we are pushing that forward really hard. Again, I would be very pleased to discuss that with the hon. Member in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on actions taken but stated ongoing work is being done.

How: Working On Our Armed Forces Strategy, Pushing That Forward Really Hard

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q8 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Veterans
Context

Beyond the Battlefield is a charity in Strangford providing care for soldiers who have fallen on bad times. The charity offers unique support services.

Question

Will the Minister make time available to visit Beyond the Battlefield, a charity in my constituency that provides care for soldiers who have fallen on hard times?

Answer from The Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns)

Later this week I am going to Scotland, and we will do Wales and then Northern Ireland in due course, and when I visit I would be honoured to come to see the good work the charity is doing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to a specific visit but expressed willingness upon future visits to other regions.

How: Going To Scotland, Then Wales And Then Northern Ireland

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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