Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support veterans in City of Durham constituency.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in the City of Durham, and throughout the North East of England, get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need. The 2021 census recorded 3623 veterans in the City of Durham constituency, representing 4.2% of the population aged 16 and over.
A range of support is in place for veterans. In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Over 100,000 veterans have used Op RESTORE to date. The Government is investing more than £800,000 each to run this service. Op COURAGE has received over 35,000 referrals. The Government is investing more than £21 million each year to run this service.
Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As of 9 February 2025, over 3100 referrals have been made and over 880 veterans have been supported into housing.
Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military service in search of new job opportunities.
Armed Forces Champions are also based across the UK’s JobCentre Plus network to help support members of the armed forces community into work.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral question asked by the hon. Member for the City of Durham on 30 January 2023, Official Report, column 17, when he will meet the hon. Member to discuss her constituent's case.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
I am aware of the Secretary of State for Defence's response to the hon. Member’s oral question. Our office will be in contact shortly to arrange a suitable time to meet.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to service personnel for the transport and accommodation costs incurred as a result of internal assignment orders.
Answered by Sarah Atherton
Members of the Armed Forces already have access to a range of generous allowances to ensure that the financial impact of undertaking assignments is minimised and is not unduly burdensome. Support includes Motor Mileage Allowance, for those who use their own private transport; Home to Duty Travel allowance, a non-taxable contribution towards commuting costs; and Duty Travel Allowance, which ensures that the costs of travel for work purposes are met. Defence has also rolled out a number of initiatives in response to the rise in cost-of-living, including a 7% increase to Home to Duty rates. Furthermore, Defence acknowledges Service life can cause disruption and disadvantage when compared to civilian life, which is why X-Factor is included as an addition to Service Personnel's Annual Salary.
Defence recognises the inherently mobile, often geographically remote, nature of life in the Armed Forces, which is why our Regular Service and Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel are provided with high quality subsidised accommodation. Those that need to move house because of their Service duties may claim for Disturbance Expenses, as well as Movement and Storage of Personal Effects which entitles them to move and/or store personal effects at public expense when assigned to a new qualifying duty station. Service personnel based overseas may also claim, where eligible, the Overseas Rent Allowance, which reimburses personnel with the necessary cost of rent and utilities for rented accommodation where there is no suitable Service accommodation. Those on a qualifying assignment or operation can claim Council Tax Relief, a contribution towards their Council Tax payments.