Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Hugh Gaffney(6 years, 11 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Tobias Ellwood)
The MOD is committed to giving personnel flexibility and choice in where, how and with whom they live. The future accommodation model programme is advancing a new way to offer choice to our armed forces, whether they wish to live on the garrison or rent or buy a house.
Hugh Gaffney
The families federations have made clear their concerns about the family accommodation model and a distinct lack of communication from the Department with forces families. When will this Government introduce some concrete proposals so that forces families have some clarity about their future?
Mr Ellwood
I agree that it is very important that we work closely with the families federations to make sure that we look after their interests, and we have explained the proposals to them. I meet them regularly and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also met them recently to explain the roll-out of this pilot scheme, which will begin at the end of this year.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Tobias Ellwood and Hugh Gaffney(7 years, 2 months ago)
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Mr Ellwood
I am delighted to say that I am very supportive of that. The more information we have to help us understand who veterans are—whether through a veterans identity card; through changing the driving licence so that it has a symbol to show that people are veterans, which we are looking at with the Secretary of State; or, indeed, by showing that on GP records—the more we can support veterans, and that is the direction of travel in which we should go.
Hugh Gaffney (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) (Lab)