Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Flick Drummond

Monday 1st February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con) [V]]

I welcome the improvements to the service justice system that are part of the new Armed Forces Bill. Many serving personnel have been put off complaining by the existing system, and the time it takes to proceed with their complaint. Can the Minister confirm that both current and new complaints will be dealt with in a more timely manner, to not only help the mental health of the complainant but improve military operational effectiveness?

[Johnny Mercer]

There are a number of measures related to service justice in the Armed Forces Bill, which was introduced last Monday. Those measures are particularly focused on improving the experience of those who use the system and make service complaints, making that system more transparent, with more integrity and more resilience to challenge. My hon. Friend will be delighted to hear that the Bill will have its Second Reading next Monday. There is some really good stuff in there; I urge her to have a look at it, and I am more than happy to engage with her further on the issues.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Johnny Mercer and Flick Drummond

Monday 21st September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Flick Drummond (Meon Valley) (Con)]

Will the Minister update us on the progress of the digitisation of Veterans UK?

[Johnny Mercer]

I am delighted to update my hon. Friend. Six months ago we signed a £25 million contract to digitise all the services that Veterans UK provides. I am clear that too many of our people have a poor experience, and the people in Veterans UK have to work in very difficult conditions with lots of paper records and so on. We are putting a lot of money into digitising that, and the experience will be replicated in an application that people can download to their smartphones, and vets care will be in the hands of every veteran in the United Kingdom.