Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Cunningham Excerpts

Monday 15th May 2023 Commons Chamber

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

5. What recent steps Veterans UK has taken to support veterans and their families.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

8. What recent steps Veterans UK has taken to support veterans and their families.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Heappey]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising such an important issue, which gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to the work done by my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Sarah Atherton) on the Defence Committee and while she was a Minister in the Department. This is an issue that the Department is working on. The Defence Secretary has made it a priority that we address any remaining issues around the culture in our armed forces. As the hon. Gentleman noted in his question, we need to make sure that that extends to the support we offer female veterans as well.

[Alex Cunningham]

Further to the question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe), Ministers will be aware of the series of articles in The Independent campaigning for asylum protection for veteran Afghan pilots and others who fought with the British forces in Afghanistan at great personal, mental and physical cost. Will the Minister confirm once and for all that these veterans will have their asylum applications processed quickly and that not one of them will be deported to Rwanda or anywhere else?