Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers received national insurance relief as a result of employing veterans in financial year 2022-23.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston

The number of employers who received National Insurance relief as a result of employing veterans in financial year 2022 to 2023 can be found online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/main-tax-expenditures-and-structural-reliefs

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans in garrison towns that claimed PIP in 2022-23.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

As explained in the answer on 13 March, to PQ16600, we have no plans to introduce a veterans’ marker for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Therefore, we have no current plans to estimate the number of veterans receiving PIP in garrison towns.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2024 to Question 21525 on Telecommunications: Infrastructure, when she plans to meet with fixed-line operators to discuss concerns.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

I met fixed-line operators on 18 April to discuss the concerns around the deployment of telegraph poles, and to seek commitments from industry. I was reassured by operators that they do not wish to undermine the public confidence in the Government's programme of infrastructure rollout and that they will consider how to improve their working practices around pole placement. I am positive that revisions to the Code of Practice can be delivered by industry, and I will meet with them again in June to understand what progress has been made.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26th April 2024, to Question 22839, on Universal Credit: Veterans, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a method of collecting data on the armed forces status of universal credit claimants in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Jo Churchill

The administration of Universal Credit in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Department for Communities.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support the automotive industry's transition to electric vehicles in the West Midlands.

Answered by Alan Mak

We continue to work with industry via the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to support the creation of an internationally competitive zero emission vehicle supply chain in the UK, including gigafactories.

There are substantial opportunities for R&D and capital investment across the supply chain and the West Midlands is well-placed to benefit.

As part of the Advanced Manufacturing Plan, we have announced over £2bn of capital and R&D funding over five years to 2030 in zero emission vehicles, batteries and the wider supply chain, boosting the UK’s competitiveness and unlocking strategic investments in our automotive industry.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March to Question 18351 on Universal Support: Veterans, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Support programme in supporting veterans.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

Universal Support is being delivered in two phases. Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) is being delivered across 42 local authority areas in England, and two areas in Wales providing support for up to 25,000 disabled people and people with health conditions and new support through the Work and Health Programme Pioneer for an additional 25,000 people across England and Wales. Veterans can access Pioneer support, and IPSPC if they have a disability or health condition.

Universal Support will be delivered through around 50 Local Authority led delivery areas, covering all of England and Wales. We expect areas will go live with Universal Support in a phased way from Autumn 2024.

The next release of published statistics for the Work and Health Programme (WHP) is planned for 30 May 2024. This was announced in the latest Work and Health statistics release.

This release will include statistics on starts, referrals and individual referrals to WHP Pioneer, which is part of the first phase of Universal Support (US). Statistics on job outcomes and first earnings from employment will be released in later publications.

The Secretary of State has also committed to the publication of data for the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) provision as part of the first phase of US. This will be pre-announced prior to publication.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March to Question 18351 on Universal Support: Veterans, how many veterans used the Universal Support programme in 2022-23.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

Universal Support is being delivered in two phases. Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) is being delivered across 42 local authority areas in England, and two areas in Wales providing support for up to 25,000 disabled people and people with health conditions and new support through the Work and Health Programme Pioneer for an additional 25,000 people across England and Wales. Veterans can access Pioneer support, and IPSPC if they have a disability or health condition.

Universal Support will be delivered through around 50 Local Authority led delivery areas, covering all of England and Wales. We expect areas will go live with Universal Support in a phased way from Autumn 2024.

The next release of published statistics for the Work and Health Programme (WHP) is planned for 30 May 2024. This was announced in the latest Work and Health statistics release.

This release will include statistics on starts, referrals and individual referrals to WHP Pioneer, which is part of the first phase of Universal Support (US). Statistics on job outcomes and first earnings from employment will be released in later publications.

The Secretary of State has also committed to the publication of data for the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) provision as part of the first phase of US. This will be pre-announced prior to publication.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 19769 on Carers’ Allowance: Veterans, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recording whether Carers’ Allowance claimants are veterans.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

As explained in the answer on 15 April, to PQ19769, we have no plans to introduce a veterans’ marker for Carer’s Allowance. Therefore, we do not hold information on the number of veterans receiving Carer’s Allowance in garrison towns.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19525 on Pension Credit: Veterans, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recording whether Pension Credit claimants (a) are and (b) have been members of the armed forces.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

Information on a claimant’s previous occupation is not relevant for a Pension Credit claim.

We have no plans to routinely collect additional information on veterans beyond that which we already collect for Universal Credit, and we will not be extending this to other benefits.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans in garrison towns claimed Carer’s Allowance in 2022-23.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

As explained in the answer on 15 April, to PQ19769, we have no plans to introduce a veterans’ marker for Carer’s Allowance. Therefore, we do not hold information on the number of veterans receiving Carer’s Allowance in garrison towns.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many physically injured veterans are on a waiting list for rehabilitative care.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

The information requested is not held centrally by NHS England. Veterans are not systematically identified in National Health Service systems, and therefore it is not possible to confirm how many veterans are on waiting lists for NHS services.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2024 to Question 18350 on Jobcentres: Armed Forces, how many veterans were supported into employment by Armed Forces Champions in the 2022-23 financial year.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiatives which help current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families. This includes the role of the Armed Forces Champion in every Jobcentre Plus District, who provide specialist support to members of the Armed Forces community and build Work Coach capability in our Jobcentres. Armed Forces Champions develop and maintain joint working relationships, provide specialist support to all Jobcentre staff and act as the first point of contact in communities for organisations and services.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2024 to Question 18350 on Jobcentres: Armed Forces, in which garrison towns the armed forces champions are located.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

Champions are allocated to Jobcentre Plus Districts, rather than individual Jobcentres.

Our model for Armed Forces Champions comprises 50 Armed Forces Champions working alongside 11 Group Leads at managerial level in 37 Districts. This ensures that there is at least one Armed Forces Champion role allocated to each Jobcentre Plus District supported by a Group network, with resources in the network targeted where there is geographically particularly high levels of demand, for example in areas where a garrison is located.

In addition to the Armed Forces Champions roles, all Work Coaches are trained to provide veterans and others with the help and support they need to access both benefits and employment support.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2024 to Question 18350 on Jobcentres: Armed Forces, how many veterans have been supported into employment by Armed Forces Champions in 2024.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiatives which help current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families. This includes the role of the Armed Forces Champion in every Jobcentre Plus District, who provide specialist support to members of the Armed Forces community and build Work Coach capability in our Jobcentres. Armed Forces Champions develop and maintain joint working relationships, provide specialist support to all Jobcentre staff and act as the first point of contact in communities for organisations and services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many veterans are on a waiting list for mental health treatment.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

The information requested is not held centrally by NHS England. Veterans are not systematically identified in National Health Service systems, and therefore it is not possible to confirm how many veterans are on waiting lists for NHS services.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many veterans are on a waiting list for dental care.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

The information requested is not held centrally by NHS England. Veterans are not systematically identified in National Health Service systems, and therefore it is not possible to confirm how many veterans are on waiting lists for NHS services.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of the Armed Forces Champions have previously served in the military.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Details of roles undertaken by staff before joining the department is not held centrally.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the employment rate for veterans was in financial year (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran. This includes making sure all veterans have equity of opportunity and access to valuable, sustainable careers after they leave military service.

Veterans’ employment in the UK is at an all-time high, at 89% within six months of leaving service for those who engage with the available support. Previously, this was at 88% in 2021/22, and 86% in 2018/19.

Op PROSPER, the first-of-its kind initiative backed by £2.1 million of government funding, will further support our veterans into valuable, fulfilling roles which make full use of their capabilities, in sectors at the forefront of the UK’s innovation and economic growth.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 22836 on Veterans: Social Rented Housing, if he will list the locations awarded grants by the Veteran Capital Housing Fund.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

The Government launched the £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund to ensure the sustainable supply of veteran housing through the refurbishment of affordable rental accommodation and the delivery of new build projects for veterans.

The Fund is a three-year programme with multiple awards planned over that period. Grants supported to date are located in North East England; South East England; and Wales. More details on these grants can be found at https://covenantfund.org.uk/veterans-capital-housing-fund-refurbishment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 22837 on Office for Veterans' Affairs: Finance and Staff, how many veterans work in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

The information is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of employment support available to veterans in Job Centres.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities

Our Jobcentre teams are supporting people back into employment and helping those in work to progress. We are working with local and national employers to help fill vacancies quickly, delivering recruitment days, job fairs, and work trials and more intensive employment programmes.

Specifically on veterans, DWP takes its responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously. Veterans who need help from the department in finding work receive support from their Work Coach, who are trained to provide tailored and personalised support to claimants dependant on their individual circumstances. For those who need specialist support, we have a network of Armed Forces Champions in every Jobcentre Plus District, providing specialist support to members of the Armed Forces community. Armed Forces Champions develop and maintain joint working relationships, provide specialist support to all Jobcentre staff and act as the first point of contact in communities for organisations and services.

Although there has been no specific assessment conducted, the Department monitors the support delivered through our Jobcentre network to ensure we offer the best service possible, and we have had and continue to receive positive feedback from customers and external stakeholders regarding their experience of working with Armed Forces Champions.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were treated by the NHS for psychosis and schizophrenia in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were treated by the NHS for generalised anxiety disorder in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were treated by the NHS for PTSD in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were treated by the NHS for addiction in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were treated by the NHS for depression in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many veterans were treated by the NHS for bipolar disorder in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

No such estimates have been made, as the information is not held in the format requested. Veterans may be treated in several National Health Service settings, including primary care, community mental health, and specialist services. Veterans are not systematically identified in all settings, and data is not systematically collated and aggregated across settings.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 February 2024 to Question 15549 on LGBT Veterans Independent Review, what his target date is for implementation of the outstanding recommendations of that review.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

The LGBT Veterans Review examined the treatment of LGBT serving personnel during the Ban. The Government has accepted the intent behind all 49 of the review’s recommendations, have already completed 28 (as of 18 April 2024) and we are working at pace to deliver those that remain. Our committed deadlines can be found in the Government's formal response to the LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to prevent veterans’ personal data from being breached by malign actors.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

The Ministry of Defence takes Cyber Security seriously including protecting personal data for all defence people including veterans.

Defence employs a Cyber Risk Management Framework that regularly reviews and escalates risk. This uses evidence from a variety of sources including as the Cabinet Office’s Gov Assure ‘Cyber Assessment Framework’ (CAF). All Defence Organisations sit within this framework.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans in prison have applied for the Veterans’ ID card.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

To date, twenty-five applications for a Veteran's Recognition Card have been received from Veterans in custody. Of those, one has been despatched and the remaining applications have been approved and are in the process of being printed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2024 to Question 18969 on Veterans: Identity Cards, when he plans to send that letter to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

I responded to the hon. Member on 5 April 2024, and a copy of my letter was placed in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans in prison have received a Veterans’ ID card.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

To date, twenty-five applications for a Veteran's Recognition Card have been received from Veterans in custody. Of those, one has been despatched and the remaining applications have been approved and are in the process of being printed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20856 on Schools: Veterans, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a training scheme for veterans to become (a) headteachers and (b) members of schools’ Senior Leadership Teams.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

Schools are best placed to decide on the development need of their staff and the leadership structure that best suits their pupils. That is why the department has given all trusts and schools the authority to make their own recruitment decisions, including for headteachers and senior leaders, using their own policies and procedures in line with Employment Law, Equality Action 2010 and Safer Recruitment Guidance to recruit appropriate individuals. More information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/616e92fd8fa8f529777ffc40/Staff_Advice_Handbook_Update_-_October_2021.pdf

Experience at various levels of teaching is an important factor for successful leadership of schools and, as such, almost all senior leaders and headteachers have been awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) and have experience as a class teacher before progressing to senior roles within schools.

For existing teachers and senior leaders, including veterans that have changed career and are working in schools, there is a range of specialist and leadership National Profession Qualifications available to provide training and support at all levels. These provide support to a range of professionals from those who want to develop expertise in high quality teaching practice to those who aspire to be members of school leadership teams and those leading multiple schools across trusts. Interested applicants can learn more about the qualifications and eligibility for scholarship funding by visiting the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-professional-qualification-npq-courses.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20858 on Schools: Veterans, what steps her Department plans to take to increase the number of people taking up the undergraduate teaching bursary for veterans.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

The £40,000 tax free undergraduate veteran teaching bursary is available to veterans who have left full time employment from the British Army, Royal Air Force, or Royal Navy and enrol on an eligible undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) course. The bursary is paid over the final two years of the course with £20,000 payable in each year. Veterans who have a degree can undertake postgraduate ITT courses where they can access the bursaries and scholarships of up to £30,000 available on these routes into teaching.

The department remains committed to promoting opportunities for service leavers and veterans, including supporting their journey into teaching in primary, secondary and further education through its broad support services and bursaries. Since the publication of its commitments in the ‘Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 to 2024’, the department has ensured that there is tailored support available for the veteran community including dedicated teacher training advisers, webpages, case study blogs on the Get Into Teaching website and information in Civvy Street publications. More information on this support can be found at the following links:

• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/if-youre-a-veteran.
• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/blog/from-the-army-to-teacher-training.
• https://civvystreetmagazine.co.uk/2023/05/bring-your-unique-perspective-to-the-classroom-get-into-teaching-2/.

The department also collaborates with the Career Transition Partnership and British Forces Resettlement Service to provide bespoke webinars, and presence at regional employer fairs. More information about these can be found at the following links:

• https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding/directory/get-into-teaching.
• https://www.bfrss.org.uk/profiles/companies/986419/.

The department regularly engages with international governments to share best practice on how to attract and retain talented teachers from all backgrounds and on how to support all teachers in their career journeys. The department’s digital services that manage the ITT application process have been designed to be as user friendly as possible and have been extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants to ensure they help remove barriers to great teachers applying for ITT courses.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20858 on Teachers: Veterans, what steps her Department has taken to advertise the availability of the undergraduate teaching bursary for veterans.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

The £40,000 tax free undergraduate veteran teaching bursary is available to veterans who have left full time employment from the British Army, Royal Air Force, or Royal Navy and enrol on an eligible undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) course. The bursary is paid over the final two years of the course with £20,000 payable in each year. Veterans who have a degree can undertake postgraduate ITT courses where they can access the bursaries and scholarships of up to £30,000 available on these routes into teaching.

The department remains committed to promoting opportunities for service leavers and veterans, including supporting their journey into teaching in primary, secondary and further education through its broad support services and bursaries. Since the publication of its commitments in the ‘Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 to 2024’, the department has ensured that there is tailored support available for the veteran community including dedicated teacher training advisers, webpages, case study blogs on the Get Into Teaching website and information in Civvy Street publications. More information on this support can be found at the following links:

• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/if-youre-a-veteran.
• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/blog/from-the-army-to-teacher-training.
• https://civvystreetmagazine.co.uk/2023/05/bring-your-unique-perspective-to-the-classroom-get-into-teaching-2/.

The department also collaborates with the Career Transition Partnership and British Forces Resettlement Service to provide bespoke webinars, and presence at regional employer fairs. More information about these can be found at the following links:

• https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding/directory/get-into-teaching.
• https://www.bfrss.org.uk/profiles/companies/986419/.

The department regularly engages with international governments to share best practice on how to attract and retain talented teachers from all backgrounds and on how to support all teachers in their career journeys. The department’s digital services that manage the ITT application process have been designed to be as user friendly as possible and have been extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants to ensure they help remove barriers to great teachers applying for ITT courses.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to undertake a lessons learned exercise on countries that have introduced policies to encourage veterans to become teachers.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

The £40,000 tax free undergraduate veteran teaching bursary is available to veterans who have left full time employment from the British Army, Royal Air Force, or Royal Navy and enrol on an eligible undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) course. The bursary is paid over the final two years of the course with £20,000 payable in each year. Veterans who have a degree can undertake postgraduate ITT courses where they can access the bursaries and scholarships of up to £30,000 available on these routes into teaching.

The department remains committed to promoting opportunities for service leavers and veterans, including supporting their journey into teaching in primary, secondary and further education through its broad support services and bursaries. Since the publication of its commitments in the ‘Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022 to 2024’, the department has ensured that there is tailored support available for the veteran community including dedicated teacher training advisers, webpages, case study blogs on the Get Into Teaching website and information in Civvy Street publications. More information on this support can be found at the following links:

• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/if-youre-a-veteran.
• https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/blog/from-the-army-to-teacher-training.
• https://civvystreetmagazine.co.uk/2023/05/bring-your-unique-perspective-to-the-classroom-get-into-teaching-2/.

The department also collaborates with the Career Transition Partnership and British Forces Resettlement Service to provide bespoke webinars, and presence at regional employer fairs. More information about these can be found at the following links:

• https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding/directory/get-into-teaching.
• https://www.bfrss.org.uk/profiles/companies/986419/.

The department regularly engages with international governments to share best practice on how to attract and retain talented teachers from all backgrounds and on how to support all teachers in their career journeys. The department’s digital services that manage the ITT application process have been designed to be as user friendly as possible and have been extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants to ensure they help remove barriers to great teachers applying for ITT courses.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20857 on Schools: Veterans, what estimate her Department has made of the number of veterans that will take up the undergraduate veteran teaching bursary in 2024.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

The department does not forecast how many veterans will take up the undergraduate veteran teaching bursary. The bursary is paid to eligible veterans if they enrol on an eligible undergraduate initial teacher training course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20856 on Schools: Veterans, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing new activities in the national curriculum on the role of the armed forces and veterans in society.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education

The National Curriculum is a framework setting out the content that the department expects schools to cover in each subject. The curriculum does not set out how curriculum subjects, or topics within the subjects, should be taught. The department believes schools should be able to use their own knowledge and expertise to determine how they teach their pupils, and to make choices about what they teach. Therefore, whilst the department does not direct schools to teach about the role of the armed forces and veterans in society, schools are already free to do so in the context of citizenship within the National Curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4, which includes important content about the British constitution, the precious liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United Kingdom and the roles played by public institutions and citizens.

Schools are also able to teach about these topics within other subjects. For example, the flexibility within the history curriculum means that there is the opportunity for teachers to teach about the lived experience of veterans across the spectrum of themes and eras set out in the curriculum. The role of the armed forces could also be explored through English literature where the context is right.

The government has committed to making no changes to the curriculum for the remainder of this parliament.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of mental health support provided to veterans who have addictions.

Answered by Maria Caulfield

Since 2015, the Better Care Fund has been crucial in supporting people of all walks of life to live healthy, independent, and dignified lives, through joining up health, social care, and housing services seamlessly around the person. There is no data available on how much of that funding may have been used for veterans. However, since August 2021, there have been four social prescribing pilots in the areas of Cornwall, Durham, Dorset, and Kensington and Chelsea. Between July 2023 and March 2024, the projects supported a total of 226 veterans.

In addition to the social prescribing pilots, NHS England has been operating seven Op COMMUNITY pilot sites which provide support to the wider Armed Forces Community, including veterans. These sites are in the integrated care board areas of Humber and North Yorkshire, Hertfordshire and West Essex, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, North Central London, Devon, Kent and Medway with Sussex, Bath, North-East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. Across the seven sites, they have supported 319 referrals relating to veterans.

No formal single assessment has been made to the potential merits of increasing mental health support to veterans with addictions. It is recognised that some individuals would benefit from mental health support, which is why NHS England commissioned Op COURAGE. This is a bespoke mental health pathway that provides support to veterans with mental health issues and addiction issues. The Op COURAGE service is in addition to the support that is available to veterans from locally commissioned addiction and mental health services.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on implementation of the recommendations of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 May 2024 to Question 26830.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-05-17/26830

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make the Armed Forces Covenant statutory.

Answered by Andrew Murrison

The Government has met its manifesto commitment to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law by introducing a statutory Covenant Duty through the Armed Forces Act 2021, to raise awareness of, and help promote better outcomes for, the Armed Forces community when accessing key public services.

During the passage of the Armed Forces Act, the Ministry of Defence committed to review whether central government should be included within the scope of the duty, and to report back to Parliament in the 2023 Covenant and Veterans Annual Report. Overall, the review found that the UK Government and Devolved Administrations are already implementing the Armed Forces Covenant as a matter of Government policy. We are committed to further strengthening of the Covenant and are actively looking at options.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2024 to Question 20145 on Homelessness: Veterans, how often his Department meets with (a) officials and (b) ministers from the devolved Administrations to discuss veterans’ homelessness.

Answered by Felicity Buchan

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 20145 on 16 April 2024.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2024 to Question 20144 on Social Rented Housing: Veterans, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recording the armed forces status of social housing applicants.

Answered by Jacob Young

The Localism Act 2011 gave local authorities the power to decide who qualifies for social housing and to set waiting list policies appropriate to their local area. In June 2020 we published new statutory guidance for local authorities that set out how they can identify applications from members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families, to ensure that they are considered appropriately.

The guidance also asks local authorities to give ‘additional preference’ (high priority) to seriously injured, ill or disabled Service personnel and former members of the Armed Forces who already have ‘reasonable preference’ (priority).

The latest Local Authority Housing Statistics, available at Local Authority Housing Statistics data returns for 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), provide data for those households on housing registers which include members of the UK Armed Forces community with additional preference.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024, to Question 19773, on Veterans: Cost of Living, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing cost of living support for veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government has successfully reduced inflation by more than half, which will make the cost of living more affordable for veterans along with every other resident in the UK.

Veterans’ employment is at an all-time high, with 89% of those leaving service finding employment within six months, but we're determined to go further. The recently launched OP PROSPER backed by £2.1million in government funding will support veterans and their families into valuable, fulfilling employment in roles which fully utilise their skills and capabilities, based in sectors at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

This government also introduced, and continued for at least one further year at the Autumn statement, 12-month National Insurance relief to eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after service.

My officials continue to drive forward efforts to ensure that veterans and their families are fully aware of the benefits and support available to them, including in relation to easing the Cost of Living.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether prison staff undergo veteran awareness training.

Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support is provided to veterans with mental health conditions in prison.

Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans who are released from prison.

Answered by Edward Argar - Shadow Secretary of State for Justice

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many veterans were evicted from their properties in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Felicity Buchan

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18036 on Civil Servants: Veterans, whether he plans to capture regional data on veterans who access employment through the Great Work for Veterans initiative.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that all veterans have equal opportunities and can access valuable, sustainable careers, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces.

A breakdown of demographics and locations of veterans who apply to Civil Service roles is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of collecting data on minority ethnic veterans employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that all veterans have equal opportunities and can access valuable, sustainable careers, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces.

A breakdown of demographics and locations of veterans who apply to Civil Service roles is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Going Forward into Employment scheme for supporting ethnic minority veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that all veterans have equal opportunities and can access valuable, sustainable careers, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces.

A breakdown of demographics and locations of veterans who apply to Civil Service roles is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Veterans’ Career Development Fund on employment levels for veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, including access to the qualifications, training and skills development they may need to progress in their careers.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding includes the £700,000 Veterans’ Career Development Fund grant, which makes funding available to organisations providing qualifications, training and skills development to veterans and their families in locally based communities across the country.

The Veterans’ Career Development Fund is administered as a grant by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and includes a planned evaluation of the overall Op PROSPER programme and its outcomes.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18034 on Civil Servants: Veterans, what his planned timetable is for implementation of those improvements.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

Further to question 18034, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs plans to launch the improvements by October.

Updated guidance on GOV.UK for veterans is underway, and will be updated iteratively as we work through the pages available.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking further steps with private sector employers to help support more veterans into employment.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with private sector employers on the employment of veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the (a) number and (b) frequency of the military training exercises conducted with non-NATO allies at army garrisons in the next 12 months.

Answered by Leo Docherty

Due to the high volume of activity already in the pipeline, the Department does not currently have any plans to increase training on the UK Defence Training Estate with partners or allies (NATO or otherwise) within the next 12 months.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to increase the (a) number and (b) frequency of the military training exercises conducted with NATO allies at army garrisons in the next 12 months.

Answered by Leo Docherty

Due to the high volume of activity already in the pipeline, the Department does not currently have any plans to increase training on the UK Defence Training Estate with partners or allies (NATO or otherwise) within the next 12 months.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18033 on Civil Servants: Veterans, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans from minority ethnic backgrounds that were employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme in the last 12 months.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15550 on Civil Servants: Veterans, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative in the West Midlands in the last 12 months.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support his Department is providing to veterans to help them become entrepreneurs.

Answered by Johnny Mercer

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, including self-employment, SME (small & medium-sized enterprise) ownership and entrepreneurship.

The Government-owned British Business Bank has a specialist delivery partner, X-Forces Enterprise, for its Start Up Loans programme which specifically supports veterans, members of the wider Armed Forces community and their family members. Since 2013 there have been over 3000 Start Up Loans delivered by X-Forces Enterprise, totalling over £33 million of finance provided.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether jurors undergo veteran awareness training.

Answered by Mike Freer

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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