Oral Answers to Questions

Christian Wakeford Excerpts
Tuesday 12th May 2020

(3 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Heappey Portrait James Heappey [V]
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People in the overseas territories will be reassured to see their plight being raised by my hon. Friend in the House today. HMS Medway and RFA Argus are already on post in the Caribbean, but additional naval assets and personnel are on standby. The commitment of our armed forces to support the overseas territories in times of pandemic or national disaster, or whatever else, is unwavering.

Christian Wakeford Portrait Christian Wakeford (Bury South) (Con)
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What support his Department has provided to veterans during the covid-19 outbreak.

Andrew Gwynne Portrait Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)
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What support his Department is providing for veterans during the covid-19 outbreak.

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Johnny Mercer Portrait The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Johnny Mercer) [V]
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I have used this unprecedented situation to continue to modernise and improve our support to veterans in the UK. Last week, I launch the first stage in placing veterans’ care in the palm of the hand of every veteran in the country, with the launch of the smartphone application of Veterans UK. I have also secured £6 million of funding from the Treasury for service charities at this time.

Christian Wakeford Portrait Christian Wakeford [V]
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Although the UK was unable to celebrate VE Day as originally planned, because of the threat of covid-19, it is still important that we remember and support the veterans who bravely played their part in fighting for peace and who sacrificed so much for our freedom. The UK’s armed forces compensation scheme, which helps veterans claim for injuries obtained while in the armed forces, was temporarily paused because of the covid-19 lockdown. Can the Minister assure my constituents that payments will be made as soon as possible? When will those payments be made?

Johnny Mercer Portrait Johnny Mercer [V]
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I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I am afraid he may be slightly misinformed; we have not missed any payments. We made 470,000 payments last month. Veterans’ care has not been suspended in the UK. We have, as the Secretary of State alluded to earlier, changed the way we provide services, but I am unaware of a single veteran currently in the care of Veterans UK who has not had their need met during this time.