Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Armed Forces Families Strategy.

The Government recognises the critical role that families play in support of Service personnel. The new 10-year Strategy provides a framework for the Nations of the UK, service providers, and other sectors to improve outcomes for families, and strengthen operational effectiveness.

Progress is assessed quarterly against an Action Plan, published on GOV.UK. Formal reports are provided to the Defence Secretary biannually and updates are included in the Covenant Annual Report, providing an opportunity for external scrutiny.