Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Marion Fellows and Leo Docherty

Monday 18th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP)]

16. What recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on armed forces personnel.

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

Our mitigating measures on the cost of living include a freeze of the daily food charge. We are limiting the increase in accommodation charges to 1%, and we are ensuring that the council tax rebate of £150 reaches more than 28,000 of our armed forces people. We are also, of course, bringing in wraparound childcare in time for the new school year.

[Marion Fellows]

Will the Minister confirm that the cost of a new £250 million royal yacht, whose principal use will be for champagne receptions, is not coming out of the Ministry of Defence budget during a cost of living crisis, when personnel have not received a real-terms rise for a number of years and while bases in Scotland have been closed and we have the smallest UK standing Army ever?

[Leo Docherty]

The hon. Lady makes a flippant point. The serious point is that this new vessel will deliver jobs right across the United Kingdom.