Forces Families 2021-07-05
2021-07-05
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need to support families who bear significant burdens due to their relatives serving in the military.
What steps his Department is taking to support the families of UK armed forces personnel. I am concerned about ensuring that service families have access to childcare, education continuity, and sustainable accommodation, especially those living at Worthy Down in my constituency.
It is my mission that they get the accommodation that they deserve. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded contracts up to £2.1 billion for maintenance services across the UK estate, reflecting increased investment announced in the integrated review to address underinvestment and enable improvements for our armed forces and their families.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
There is a need to ensure that all eligible personnel are aware of the Continuity of Education Allowance available to both officers and non-commissioned officers.
What steps are being taken to ensure that eligible personnel know about the Continuity of Education Allowance, which supports young people from military families? The vast majority of these young people are a great asset to schools they attend.
The Continuity of Education Allowance is available to all ranks, and we encourage as many people as possible to take it up. Service personnel may qualify based on eligibility criteria, and they are encouraged to seek advice from their chain of command if they wish to utilise the allowance.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Ensuring that service families can live in the modern, sustainable accommodation they deserve is a critical issue.
Can the Secretary of State confirm it is his mission to ensure every service family gets the accommodation they deserve? The families are the backbone of military personnel across the UK.
It is my mission that they get the accommodation that they deserve. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded contracts up to £2.1 billion for maintenance services across the UK estate, reflecting increased investment announced in the integrated review to address underinvestment and enable improvements for our armed forces and their families.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Families of service personnel often face significant childcare costs, sometimes three times the amount provided by the Government.
Will the Secretary of State increase the childcare subsidy available to personnel and their families? The current subsidy is £2,000 but families are spending much more on childcare costs.
We are increasing spending on wraparound childcare to over £165 million a year for families with children up to 11 years old, reflecting that most service personnel do not have a nine-to-five job and it will help them considerably. In fact, where we have run the pilots this has been incredibly popular.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Helping the spouses of service personnel find good-quality work is largely left to third-sector organisations, while Canada has a successful in-house model.
Will our Government look at bringing an in-house employment network like Canada's spousal employment network in-house? The current situation leaves it to the third sector despite their efforts.
We are working on a families' strategy and his suggestion is exactly an area we are focusing on. We need to reinvigorate such organisations whether through the state or a blend of non-governmental organisations, charities, volunteers, and the state.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer acknowledges the issue but does not commit to a specific action like bringing an in-house employment network similar to Canada's model.
Working On A Families' Strategy
Response accuracy