Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Williamson and Tom Pursglove

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

We are very happy to discuss how best we can work with our European partners, but we do not want to do anything that diminishes what we agreed to on 23 June 2016, which is exiting the European Union. If we can work in a pragmatic way with European partners, that is good, but let us not forget that most of what we do in, say, equipment programmes is done through bilateral relationships, not through the European Union.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

8. What steps he is taking to encourage more organisations to participate in the armed forces covenant.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gavin Williamson and Tom Pursglove

Monday 15th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I will be giving evidence to the independent pay review body next month, and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that members of the armed forces get paid as and when they expect to be paid. Let us not forget that the Scottish Government are taking money out of service personnel wages.

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

I very much welcome the establishment of the veterans board. Will my right hon. Friend task it with ensuring that there is greater awareness among local government and public bodies of their duties and obligations under the covenant?

[Gavin Williamson]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight that. So often, local authorities do not understand the duties and obligations that rest on their shoulders. We are not only creating intentions to improve the lives of people who are serving in our armed forces, but putting money behind them, such as with the premium to ensure that service personnel get the right type of education for their children. However, we do need local authorities to work with the Department to ensure that service personnel benefit.