Oral Answers to Questions

Victoria Prentis Excerpts

Monday 22nd October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to improve veterans’ access to support services.

[Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con)]

13. What steps he is taking to improve veterans’ access to support services.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Gavin Williamson)]

I recently made a series of announcements on new schemes and initiatives designed to support serving personnel and their families throughout their military careers and beyond. Those include a further package to support armed forces personnel as they enter civilian life, a veterans ID card and a new fund dedicated to supporting the careers of the spouses and civil partners of those who serve.

[Gavin Williamson]

My hon. Friend makes a valuable point. The armed forces covenant, which I know his local authorities are members of, plays a vital role in ensuring that armed forces service personnel and those who have served are able to plug into health services, help with finding a home or any other support that it is so vital for local authorities to provide.

[Victoria Prentis]

Would the Secretary of State consider visiting the Heyford and Bicester veterans’ group, which meets once a month on Fridays in my constituency and provides a one-stop-shop for veterans and their families, where they can access all the services that they need?

[Gavin Williamson]

I was hoping that I would get such an invite in the near future, and one has just come along. I would be delighted to visit the group. I know that my hon. Friend does so much work there and is so supportive of them, and I look forward to seeing that at first hand.