Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support service families using high-cost credit and financial services.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works in close partnership with three not-for-profit Credit Unions which make up the Joining Forces Credit Union initiative. Armed Forces personnel, their partners, families, and dependants, can access face-to-face and online financial awareness briefings to help improve financial resilience with the aim of deterring the use of ‘pay day loan companies’. Joining Forces Credit Union provides alternative savings and loan products enabling Armed Forces personnel to make better informed financial choices.

Additionally, the MOD works closely with charities such as The White Ensign Association and Government backed organisations such as the Money and Pensions Service and GambleAware to provide financial awareness campaigns using the British Forces Broadcasting Service to highlight everything from savings, borrowing, pensions and the pitfalls of problem gambling.