Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the rollout of the Defence Discount Card.

Launched in 2012, the Defence Discount Service (DDS) is the official Ministry of Defence (MOD) discount service for the UK’s Armed Forces, veterans, and defence community.

With over 650,000 members, the DDS is partnered with over 9,000 brands, providing savings, benefits, and discounts. Its members can access discounts for free online through the DDS website, saving them thousands on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, electronics and more. In addition, a Defence Privilege Card can also be purchased for £4.99 for access to discounts on the high street in stores, restaurants and venues, and is valid for five years.

The DDS is open to Regular serving members of the Armed Forces; Reserve forces; Armed Forces’ veterans; MOD Civil Servants; Cadet Forces (aged 16+) and adult instructors; spouses and partners of serving personnel; bereaved family members; war and service widow(er)s and NATO personnel serving in the UK.

Membership is up year on year, as is the number of offers available. In the last Financial Year alone, the DDS has recruited over 65,000 brand new members, plus over 28,000 members have gone on to renew their Defence Privilege Cards for a further five years. More information on who qualifies and the offers available can be found at the DDS website: www.defencediscountservice.co.uk