Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Veterans

Wednesday 4 June 2025 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • Labour will improve 3,000 forces family homes in Scotland as part of a 1.5 billion investment.
  • Support services and accommodation for veterans, including women survivors of sexual violence, must be safe and suitable.
  • The Minister for Veterans and People is advocating for veterans' interests in Cabinet, leading to significant investments in military accommodation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Defence Veterans
Context

MP Sam Rushworth notes that veterans in Bishop Auckland often mention the need to improve homes for forces families. He references Labour's announcement of improving 3,000 forces family homes in Scotland.

Question

I regularly speak to veterans in Bishop Auckland and they often mention the need to improve homes for forces families. Will the Minister welcome this week’s announcement that Labour will improve 3,000 forces family homes in Scotland as part of a £1.5 billion investment, and does the Minister agree that all those who serve our forces in this United Kingdom should have a home fit for a hero?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I am pleased to join my hon. Friend in welcoming the strategic defence review, which was launched by the Prime Minister in Scotland on Monday and included more than £400 million of investment in military accommodation in Scotland. I am sure that, like me, my hon. Friend will be appalled that the First Minister snubbed a confidential briefing on that strategic defence review to go campaigning, during a by-election campaign, at a charity whose funding he had slashed.

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Q2 Emma Foody Labour (Co-op) Cramlington and Killingworth
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

MP Emma Foody discusses a local charity supporting women veterans who have experienced unsuitable accommodation, leading to further trauma.

Question

A local charity in my area supports women veterans. Recently, it was supporting a woman who was rehomed in general-purpose supported accommodation for veterans in Scotland. The accommodation was entirely unsuitable for her as a survivor of sexual violence and led to her being subjected to a further sexual assault by another man housed there. Can the Minister assure me that her work with the Ministry of Defence will ensure appropriate support for women veterans?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

First, I am truly sorry to hear about the experiences of my hon. Friend’s constituent. Support services and accommodation across the UK must reflect the needs of all our veterans, including women. That includes the provision of safe, suitable and appropriate housing. If she writes to me, I shall ask the Minister for Veterans and People to get in touch with her.

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Q3 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Scotland Veterans
Context

MP John Lamont notes that the previous Conservative Government had a dedicated Minister of State for Veterans in Cabinet.

Question

The previous Conservative Government had a dedicated Minister of State for veterans sitting at the Cabinet table, but that job was taken away by the new Administration. How are the interests of veterans in Scotland being raised in Cabinet under the new Government?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

The Minister for Veterans and People is doing sterling work. His advocacy has helped to ensure that Labour will improve 3,000 forces family homes. We are making a £1.5 billion investment across the whole UK. I am sure that when the strategic defence review was launched, in Scotland and then in this Chamber, the hon. Member was full of admiration for what the Minister is doing for veterans and those who currently serve us with such distinction.

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Q4 Josh Babarinde Lib Dem Eastbourne
Women & Equalities Veterans
Context

MP Josh Babarinde mentions Betty Gallagher, a Scotland-born veteran who faced discrimination in the military due to her sexual orientation.

Question

Scotland-born veteran Betty Gallagher joined the Army when she was 17 but was dishonourably discharged eight months later for what were referred to as “lesbian tendencies”. Today, Betty runs the thriving BourneOut LGBT hub in Eastbourne and founded Eastbourne Pride. Will the Minister thank Betty for her service to our country, and advise on how she and other veterans can seek justice for the discrimination that they were subjected to?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I am delighted to join the hon. Gentleman in thanking Betty for all her efforts. He will know that, in the review, work has been undertaken on justice for LGBT people in our armed forces, and we are pleased to commend that to the House.

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Q5 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Housing Veterans
Context

MP Christine Jardine associates herself with remarks on Aberdeen FC and then discusses the importance of housing for veterans.

Question

The strategic defence review makes it clear that housing must be a priority, and that the money from the sale of housing must be reinvested. Veterans continually come to me who have been discharged into homelessness. Can the Minister reassure us that we will ensure that houses that are sold or redeveloped are available to veterans’ families?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

I am very pleased to offer the hon. Lady that reassurance.

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Q6 Stephen Gethins SNP Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
Scotland Veterans
Context

MP Stephen Gethins congratulates Aberdeen FC and Dundee United on their respective achievements, then questions the Prime Minister's decision to slash the winter fuel payment.

Question

The Scottish Government have reinstated the winter fuel payment for up to 88,000 pension-age veterans in Scotland. But the Prime Minister has said that it was right to slash the winter fuel payment. Was the Prime Minister right to slash it?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Kirsty McNeill)

When this Government took office, we inherited a £22 billion black hole, which required emergency action. We said at the time that our decision on the winter fuel payment was a difficult one that we did not want to make, and we are very pleased to be in a position to reconsider it.

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