Defence

Monday 28th April 2014 Ministerial Corrections

Mobile Phones

[Mr Hoban]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many smartphone apps his Department has launched.

[Official Report, 22 October 2013, Vol. 569, c. 102W.]

Letter of correction from Philip Dunne:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban) on 22 October 2013.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Mr Dunne]

Since 2007, available records show that the armed forces have launched 31 smartphone applications.

The correct answer should have been:

[Mr Dunne]

Since 2007, available records show that the armed forces have launched 39 smartphone applications.

Military Credit Union

The following is an extract from the response given by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne) to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) during the Westminster Hall debate on Military Credit Union on 8 April 2014.

[Jim Shannon]

I also asked the Minister about giving advice to soldiers and serving personnel on how best to manage their money. I said that, often, those who did not have the level of income they currently have found managing their money overawing. Has offering that advice been considered?

[Mr Dunne]

Indeed. The hon. Gentleman raised the role of the Money Advice Service, which we established two years ago, and I am grateful that he gave it a positive endorsement. The advice is proving effective and, as the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire said, the number of people taking advantage of the service in its first two years demonstrates that there was a need for it. We think that it is being delivered in the right way. I also thank the hon. Member for Strangford for the advert he gave to Armed Forces day this summer and the celebrations that will take place in his constituency. I wish them well.

[Official Report, 8 April 2014, Vol. 579, c. 44WH.]

Letter of correction from Philip Dunne:

An error has been identified in the response given on 8 April 2014.

The correct response should have been:

[Mr Dunne]

Indeed. The hon. Gentleman raised the role of the MoneyForce, which we established last year, and I am grateful that he gave it a positive endorsement. The advice is proving effective and, as the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire said, the number of people taking advantage of the service in its first year demonstrates that there was a need for it. We think that it is being delivered in the right way.