Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Jenkinson Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Johnny Mercer]

I thank the hon. Member for her kind comments about my daughter. She is right—the telephone service was briefly suspended while Veterans UK, like every other organisation in the country, tried to reconfigure its services, to ensure that we met the demand out there. We have helped over 13,000 veterans since 23 March. Per month, we make 470,000 pension and compensation scheme payments. I am still unaware—as I was six weeks ago, when I spoke from the Dispatch Box—of a single veteran whose urgent need has not been responded to, but if she is aware of any, I would be more than happy to meet her and find out what we can do better.

[Mark Jenkinson (Workington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that veterans are protected from vexatious claims.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that veterans are protected from vexatious claims.

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

We rightly expect the highest standards of our service personnel. We also owe them justice and fairness. On 18 March 2020, I introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill to tackle vexatious claims and end the cycle of reinvestigations against our armed forces personnel and veterans.

[Mark Jenkinson]

I associate myself with the good wishes to the Minister and his wife. In my constituency, Workington, there is an active veterans hub, members of which I met earlier this year. What support can the Department provide for our veterans as they leave the forces to find alternative employment in Workington and other areas across Britain?