Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and Johnny Mercer

Thursday 7th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

I initiated that review when I first came back into office under this Prime Minister. That review has now completed. It was due to report before Christmas, but I have pulled that forward and I want to see a response from Government to the review by the end of September or the beginning of October. The review highlights changes that have been overdue for some time and I look forward to having more to say to the hon. Gentleman on that matter when the response comes back.

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to ensure cyber-security across Government Departments.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and Johnny Mercer

Thursday 22nd June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

T3. The Cabinet Office does a really good job, thanks in part to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and others, in looking after veterans’ affairs across the whole of government. However, I would like another group in the armed forces community, armed forces families, to have parity of esteem with veterans. We still have spouses and partners whose careers and jobs are trashed as they move around, with employers not doing enough; we have children who have studied the Romans six times and never get on to the Egyptians; and we have health appointments that do not catch up on moves. We need the Cabinet Office to chivvy this cross-departmentally. Will he do that?

[The Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Johnny Mercer)]

That is a good question, and I pay huge tribute to my hon. Friend for his work over the years; he did the “Living in our Shoes” report when I was in a previous role. Veterans’ affairs are outside the Ministry of Defence because veterans are civilians, not serving personnel, and they require all those aspects of government to work for veterans as civilians. He is talking about armed forces families, and responsibility for them remains with the MOD and the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families. I am sure he will have heard those remarks and I stand ready to assist in any way I can.