Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to include all of her Department's responsibilities.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation that those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces, and their families, including the bereaved, will be treated fairly and not disadvantaged in accessing public and commercial goods and services as a result of their military service. It also allows for special provision, when justified, for those who have sacrificed the most, such as the bereaved and injured. The Covenant Legal Duty helps promote better outcomes for the Armed Forces community when accessing key public services of healthcare, housing, and education, and this will soon be extended to transport.

The Department for Transport is well-equipped to meet its obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty, ensuring that armed forces personnel and their families do not face undue disadvantage when accessing transport services.

The Department will continue to work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on the Covenant’s Statutory Guidance and implementation.