Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of welfare and family support available to personnel serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and their families; and whether he has considered extending eligibility for support schemes available to Armed Forces families, including Service Pupil Premium funding and wraparound childcare provision, to the children of Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel.

The Ministry of Defence recognises the importance of supporting Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel and their families. RFA personnel and their families have access to a range of welfare and family support services, and we continue to keep these arrangements under review to ensure they remain appropriate to the needs of the workforce.

Support available for RFA personnel and their families includes enhanced leave entitlements and tailored assistance through mechanisms such as Occupational Health, keep-in-touch days, and reasonable workplace adjustments. Further support is delivered through the Employee Assistance Programme, the Defence Health and Wellbeing Portfolio, and Family and People Services, with the RFA workforce also benefitting from an extended welfare network under the umbrella of expert services, including the Navy Families Federation, ensuring holistic support for employees and their families.