Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsteen Sullivan Excerpts

Monday 6th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Euan Stainbank (Falkirk) (Lab)]

22. What steps he is taking to improve support for veterans.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

23. What steps he is taking to improve support for veterans.

[Mr Speaker]

Congratulations, Minister, on the DSO.

--- Later in debate ---

[Al Carns]

Absolutely. As a fellow Scot, I take that very seriously, and I will be visiting there at the end of this week. I have already met the Scottish Veterans Minister, and I want to champion best practice and mutual understanding between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that we can all learn off each other and deliver the most and best services for veterans in due course.

[Kirsteen Sullivan]

As a former councillor, I know that many veterans can find themselves at a disadvantage when trying to access services, including social housing. Veterans face housing challenges not only in Bathgate and Linlithgow, but across the country. With many Scottish councils and indeed the Scottish Government having declared a housing emergency, will the Minister advise the House what engagement he has had with the Scottish Government to ensure that the housing needs of veterans are prioritised?

[Al Carns]

My hon. Friend highlights a pretty important point. The Government as a whole are pushing forward to deliver houses at a faster rate over the next five years than, I hope, ever before. Veterans will be included in that, and when I come to Scotland at the end of the week these are exactly the issues I will be talking to the Scottish Veterans Minister about.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)]

It is important that the strategic defence review is able to report its recommendations. It is certainly true that we inherited armed forces with capability gaps, falling morale and a recruitment and personnel crisis, which is why the SDR is so important in setting out a clear direction for the future. This Government back defence and will continue to do so, ensuring that those capability gaps are filled.

[Kirsteen Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) (Lab/Co-op)]

T6. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the historic contributions of women in wartime are recognised? I am thinking particularly of those who worked in munitions factories, including the Linlithgow munitionettes.

[Al Carns]

The essential role played by women throughout both major wars in delivering an industrial powerhouse to support our armed forces is not lost on the Government. I am happy to take this matter offline and discuss it in due course.