Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help increase access to (a) mental health services and (b) employment opportunities for Veterans in Southport constituency.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, and to health, including mental health support whenever it is needed.
Op COURAGE is the NHS England veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service, funded by over £21m per year. Op COURAGE works with several charities and local organisations to provide help with wider health and wellbeing needs.
Earlier this year we launched a campaign with NHS England and the Royal College of GPs to boost the uptake of Op COURAGE, and to encourage GP practices to become veteran friendly accredited.
Veterans employment is at an all-time high, with 89% with six months of leaving service, of those engaging with Career Transition Partnership support.
Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will offer tailored support to veterans and their families entering into employment or taking the next step in their careers wherever they may be based in the UK, at any point in their lives after leaving service.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Answered by John Glen
The statement I made on 21st May to Parliament provided clarity on the Government response to the Inquiry’s second interim report. The Scheme responds directly to and is in line with the recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in its second interim report, which considered the earlier study into compensation by Sir Robert Francis KC.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Second Interim Report of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published 5 April 2023, what his Department's policy is on the implementation of that report's recommendation of interim payments to children, parents and siblings of people affected by infected blood.
Answered by John Glen
Work is currently underway across Government to give thorough consideration to each of the recommendations that Sir Brian made in his second interim report. As you know, the Victims and Prisoners Bill was amended on 4 December 2023, and we are aware of the strength of feeling across Parliament on this issue. I will make a statement to Parliament as soon as possible before recess to update on Government progress.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential security implications of the installation of TikTok on Government devices.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
We continue to monitor potential threats to our systems and data and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
With regards to potential security risks, His Majesty’s Government does not comment on these matters.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government will respond to Sir Robert Francis QC’s recommendations in the Interim Report on the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his timelines is for the implementation of the remaining 18 recommendations made by Sir Robert Francis QC in the Interim Report on the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I recognise the importance of the issue and the desire of the honourable Member to receive an update on Government work in relation to Sir Robert Francis’ recommendation.
It is my intention to provide an update to the House as soon as possible.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with his G7 counterparts following the summit in Bavaria, Germany.
Answered by Boris Johnson
Details of discussions with world leaders including members of the G7 are published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps his Department has made to encourage the return to office work for civil servants across the Government.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
There is full agreement across government on the clear benefits from face-to-face, collaborative working.
I also wrote to departments earlier this year to underline the importance of workplace attendance and to ensure we are making efficient use of the government estate.
Departments’ progress is being monitored and we are seeing civil servants have been increasingly returning to the office.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of publishing the infected blood compensation framework report by Sir Robert Francis QC by 14 March 2022 or on its receipt.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS681, made on 15 March.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has held recent discussions with the Royal British Legion on support for veterans' mental health.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The Government regularly engages service charities, including the Royal British Legion, who make an enormous contribution to veterans and their families. We are firmly committed to continuing to work with the charity sector through forums including the Covenant Reference Group and the Service Charities Partnership Board to better understand veterans' needs, as well as deliver high-quality mental health support to former service personnel. We welcomed the opportunity to work closely with the Royal British Legion and other service charities last year to ensure support was in place for members of the Armed Forces community who had been impacted by the Afghanistan conflict and subsequent withdrawal.