Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Will Quince and Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

Monday 14th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mark Lancaster]

We have been quite open about the fact that there have been challenges in this contract. Equally, the Chief of the Defence Staff, in his appearance before the Select Committee the other day, recognised that some of these issues were of the Army’s own making historically. I can only repeat again that I am confident—this has occupied much of my time in recent months—that improvements have been made to the contract, and we are now seeing that pipeline working. It is much more effective than it has been in the past, and I think the results will be seen in a few months’ time.

[Will Quince (Colchester) (Con)]

I accept that it is early days, but has the Minister made any assessment of the Army’s new recruitment advertising campaign?

[Mark Lancaster]

Yes. The very fact that everybody seems to be talking about it is a very positive sign. Time will tell, but early indications are that applications are up by over 20% on this time last year and by 35% on 2017, so that appears to be positive.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Will Quince and Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

Monday 18th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Will Quince (Colchester) (Con)]

13. If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using empty Ministry of Defence properties to house homeless veterans.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mark Lancaster)]

Ministry of Defence housing supports serving members of the armed forces and their families. A margin of unoccupied properties is retained, but housing that is no longer needed is released. We provide significant support to facilitate the transition to civilian life, and we have allocated £40 million from LIBOR fines to support projects providing veterans with accommodation, including £8.5 million for Mike Jackson House.

[Will Quince]

Colchester is a garrison town, and we currently have a number of MOD properties standing vacant. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how some of those properties could be used for temporary accommodation for military veterans?

[Mark Lancaster]

Approximately 10% of our service family accommodation is unoccupied, but we keep it at that level to ensure that we can cater for trickle postings and for people returning from overseas. I am not convinced that the use of service accommodation is a sustainable way of supporting veterans. However, there are a number of excellent projects around the country and I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how we might pursue them in Colchester.