Oral Answers to Questions

Gary Sambrook Excerpts

Monday 20th September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Paul Howell (Sedgefield) (Con)]

4. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the additional support for veterans and military charities announced on 6 September 2021.

[Gary Sambrook (Birmingham, Northfield) (Con)]

12. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the additional support for veterans and military charities announced on 6 September 2021.

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)]

The Government are committed to providing a gold standard of support for veterans. The additional £5 million announced on 6 September followed a meeting of the Defence Secretary, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, me and the service charities to discuss measures to mitigate the impact of events in Afghanistan. That is on top of the £20 million already going to armed forces charities this year.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gary Sambrook]

I know that my hon. Friend’s top priorities are the health and wellbeing of those people who have sacrificed so much for our country, especially in respect of mental health. Can he confirm that, if people who require specialist help were to reach out to NHS Operation Courage, they would get the bespoke care packages that they need and desperately deserve?

[Leo Docherty]

I can confirm that, and I am pleased to do so. The provision is first class. However, we are also after a change in culture, so that those who have served know that it is the soldierly thing to do to ask for help.