Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Huw Merriman

Monday 25th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve veterans’ access to support services.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)]

With your permission, Mr Speaker, may I pair question 4 with questions 11, 12, 19 and 23?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

It has been gently pointed out to me—not that one wishes to be pedantic, merely correct—that one might not be able to pair something, particularly when there are four. A grouping, on the other hand, is perfectly orderly. Mr Merriman, let us hear it man.

[Huw Merriman]

We were waiting for you to finish, Mr Speaker. [Laughter.] I know my place.

I thank the Minister for his answer. The charity sector plays an amazing role in enhancing support for veterans. What engagement has the Minister had with that sector?

[Mr Ellwood]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. It is so important that we engage as much as we possibly can. There are over 400 service-facing charities. They are co-ordinated by the Veterans’ Gateway and Cobseo, forming themselves into clusters so we can provide the necessary support in the various areas required. Every second Monday, the Defence Secretary and I meet people from the charity sector. In the coming weeks, we will be meeting charities based specifically in the arts.