Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to help support veterans with (a) housing and (b) education and skills training in South Derbyshire constituency.

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 throughout Derbyshire get access to housing, employment and other support they need.

Op FORTITUDE is a single referral pathway available across the United Kingdom that provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness and as of 24 November 2024, over 2,850 referrals have been made and nearly 816 veterans have been supported into housing.

The Prime Minister recently announced the continuation of funding for the cross-UK Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme and Op FORTITUDE, ensuring that support will be there into 2026 for veterans at risk of homelessness. This is in addition to his commitment earlier in the year that veterans will be exempt from local connection and residency tests when applying for social housing in England.

There are a range of skills and education support available to veterans, including via the Career Transition Partnership, which supports those in search of new job and education opportunities.

Additional support is also available to veterans and their families via a Sector-Based Employment Pathway, which offers employment and career progression support, including access to qualifications and training, at any stage in their lives after leaving Service.