Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Caroline Ansell

Monday 1st February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

The hon. Member raises a good point and a good question. These negotiations are ongoing at the time. We are very clear, though, that those who have served in the armed forces should suffer no disadvantage because of their service, and that of course extends to those who apply for BNO residency, should they be eligible.

[Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to further enshrine the armed forces covenant into law.

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Johnny Mercer)]

As committed to in the Queen’s Speech, last week measures to further incorporate the armed forces covenant into legislation were introduced in the Armed Forces Bill. The Bill requires those public bodies in scope to consider the principles of the covenant when developing policy and making decisions in health, housing and education—areas that are fundamental to service life.

[Caroline Ansell [V]]

I thank my hon. Friend for his response, and I am very pleased with that support for the family, which is very much in the spirit of our military covenant. What duty will be applied to education, and what support measures are in place for the children of our military families to support their learning in schools both while the parent is serving and later when a veteran?

[Johnny Mercer]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning on this issue. Registered service children in the annual school census in England receive the £310 service pupil premium per child per year up to year 11. Since 2016, registered service children, even if their serving parent has left the armed forces, continue to receive the SPP for up to six years while they attend state schools in England.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Caroline Ansell

Monday 7th December 2020 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con)]

With the number of combat role set to increase, does my hon. Friend the Minister agree that now is the time to invest in our people, and most specifically in support for mental health resilience, hardware and cyber, so that our troops are prepared in every sense of the word to do the important work that they need to do?

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Johnny Mercer)]

Over the past two years, we have made a real effort to completely redesign the mental health care provision for our armed forces personnel, both during their time in service and when they leave. I am delighted to confirm for the first time that this country’s armed forces will receive mandatory mental health training every year from 1 April next year. I pay tribute to the service chiefs who have led the way on this significant policy change.