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1302349

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2021
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent steps he has taken to improve the Armed Forces Covenant; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	St Helens South and Whiston
	tabling member printed	Ms Marie Rimmer
	uin	913349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>Supporting the Armed Forces Covenant is a key priority and the Government has introduced legislation, as part of the Armed Forces Bill, further incorporating the Armed Forces Covenant into law. The legislation introduces a duty of due regard to the Covenant principles on local public bodies, in key areas of health, housing, and education.</p><p> </p><p>The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report, published each December, outlines progress we have made as a nation to strengthen the Covenant across the UK.</p> answering member constituency Plymouth, Moor View answering member printed Johnny Mercer question first answered 15/03/2021 16:02:26 answering member 4485 label Biography information for Johnny Mercer
	tabling member	4457 label Biography information for Ms Marie Rimmer

506811

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2016
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which of the Directors in his Department has responsibility for the Armed Forces Covenant.
	tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
	tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
	uin	33250
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>The department takes its ongoing responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously. Pete Searle, the Strategy Director for Working Age Benefits, is DWP’s Armed Forces Advocate responsible for ensuring that the needs of service personnel, their families and veterans are properly catered for by the Department. This means ensuring that these groups are not disadvantaged as a result of military service, and providing special treatment where appropriate.</p><p>Every Jobcentre district has an “Armed Forces Champion” to provide a level of expertise for Jobcentres on Armed Forces matters. This is backed up by guidance covering the special rules that are in place, such as ex-service personnel having early access to the Work Programme, and information on any particular challenges they may face, such as the impact on employment prospects of frequent changes in locations.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 32736 question first answered 18/04/2016 15:18:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1726776

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to strengthen her Department's compliance with the Armed Forces Covenant.
	tabling member constituency	Torbay
	tabling member printed	Steve Darling
	uin	3855
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2024 answer text <p>The Department takes its responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant very seriously and is proud to continue to provide vital and significant support services for veterans which recognises their particular needs and circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>For DWP, strengthening our compliance with the Armed Forces Covenant is about making sure that we have a benefits and employment support offer that meets the needs of veterans, serving personnel, and their families. DWP is fully committed to the Covenant and will do what is necessary to support members of the Armed Forces Community.</p> answering member constituency Stretford and Urmston answering member printed Andrew Western question first answered 10/09/2024 14:23:21 answering member 4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western
	tabling member	5066

454933

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2016 to Question 27540, under whose jurisdiction objections citing provisions relating to the Armed Forces Covenant excluding those relating to service premium admission would fall.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
	tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
	uin	28355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2016 answer text <p>The School Admissions Code contains a range of statutory provisions relating to school admission arrangements and to the wider admissions process. The code includes provisions to ensure that children of UK service personnel are not disadvantaged when applying for a school place. The role of the Schools Adjudicator is to consider objections about admission arrangements only. Some of the provisions in the code, therefore, do not fall within the adjudicator’s jurisdiction. There is no body which has jurisdiction to consider objections relating to these other provisions, but admission authorities must comply with all the statutory provisions in the code and, where they fail to do so, the Secretary of State has powers under section 496 and 497 of the Education Act 1996 to require them to comply.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/03/2016 10:51:15 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

453162

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2016
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many cases the Schools Adjudicator has investigated in connection with the provisions of the Armed Forces Covenant since 2011.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Yardley
	tabling member printed	Jess Phillips
	uin	27540
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2016 answer text <p>In response to the Armed Forces Covenant, the School Admissions Code (the code) contains various provisions to ensure that children of UK service personnel are not disadvantaged when applying for a school place. Admission authorities are required to comply with the code. Objections citing provisions relating to the Armed Forces Covenant would not be within the Office of the School Adjudicator’s jurisdiction (excluding those relating to service premium admission).</p><p>The Office of the School’s Adjudicator has not received any objections relating to this issue.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/02/2016 14:28:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4370 label Biography information for Jess Phillips

77089

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2013, what steps his Department has taken to improve the sharing of service facilities with civilians.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	205164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department shares facilities with civilians where feasible (with defence needs taking priority) and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Wiltshire answering member printed Dr Andrew Murrison question first answered 15/07/2014 15:46:39 answering member 1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

90980

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2013, page 7, what progress has been made on the introduction of pupil information profiles to help with the transfer of key information when service children move from one school to another; and whether he plans to introduce that programme on a nationwide basis.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	208504
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>The Pupil Information Profile was developed by North Yorkshire County Council with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), schools and the Department for Education (DfE) and its devolved equivalents using funding from the MOD’s Education Fund.</p><p>The Pupil Information Profile is a standard document used to assist the transfer of pupil information when a Service child moves schools. The document contains key information, such as their educational background, learning requirements and next learning steps.</p><p>The MOD has promoted its use in a number of ways. For example through discussions with the various education forums within the Devolved Administrations. By informing the military community of the Pupil Information Profile through articles in the Families Federations magazines and by its use in MOD schools overseas.</p><p>Whether to role the Pupil Information Profile out on a national basis is a matter for the DfE (and its devolved equivalents).</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/09/2014 16:44:53 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 19639 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

90978

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2013, page 67, what progress has been made on the review of public transport issues affecting service families living in remote areas; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	208502
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Since the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2012, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has systematically been reviewing the public transport arrangements in place for all locations where there is Defence housing. Where the location of Service family accommodation does not have reasonable access to essential amenities, including public transport, this is reflected in reduced charges for accommodation. Furthermore, when setting charges in the future we plan to look in more detail at the location of Service accommodation based on the Department for Transport’s (DfT) accessibility indicators, which also consider travel time to health and education services and food stores, and also modern requirements such broadband speed. <br><br>Separately, the MOD is working with DfT and The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to improve transport links at Defence sites. Work has been undertaken to highlight the importance of considering the needs of service personnel and their families in setting local transport provisions in line with the commitment that those who serve in the Armed Forces and their families should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public or commercial services.<br><br>In 2013, DfT Engagement Teams who are responsible for engaging with local authorities on transport matters in England met with authorities to highlight the importance of supporting the Armed Forces Covenant. Engagement meetings with local authorities across England were used to raise awareness of the many armed forces establishments located in isolated areas and the lack of choice military families have over the location of their Service accommodation which means that some families face transport difficulties and also struggle to maintain employment as a result of their mobility. <br><br>Similarly, DCLG published advice on provisions for locations where there is Defence housing in their Guidance on Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and Statements in decision-taking. This publication contains guidance for local authorities on the special consideration owed to service personnel and their families particularly in setting local transport strategies and plans that should consider the particular requirements of any Armed Forces families in their area.<br><br>The MOD will continue to monitor the issue through the Families Federations.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 15/09/2014 15:13:51 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 19641 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

90979

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2013, page 25, when his Department plans to publish the initial findings of its study of the causes of death of veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	208503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Ministry of Defence hopes to publish the first report on deaths amongst veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts in 2015-16. The work to link the cohort of over 500,000 personnel records with the deaths register held by the Health and Social Care Information Service (HSCIC) is in the early stages and a release schedule for the results is still being finalised but we hope that the information will be available for publication in the next financial year.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 15/09/2014 15:12:25 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry previous answer version 19640 answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

90981

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Armed Forces Covenant
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2013, page 13, what progress has been made on the Partner Employment Project; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	208498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2014 answer text <p>The mobile nature of Service life can create a particular difficulty for working partners who often give up their own jobs to accompany Service personnel. The Partner Employment Project (PEP), as part of the New Employment Model (NEM) programme, is focused on addressing the barriers that hinder spousal employment.<br><br>The PEP continues to support the delivery of two LIBOR-funded programmes which provide, respectively, employability and business start-up workshops: the LifeWorks for Families programme run by the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) and the ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ Business Start-Up programme run by the University of Wolverhampton. These two-year programmes started in October 2013 and I am pleased to say that over 200 spouses have already benefited. Demand is such that this year both programmes are delivering extra bespoke workshops in Germany and Cyprus. RBLI are also delivering a course in Belgium to support serving personnel serving in NATO, as well as developing a remotely accessed programme to enable them to reach more spouses flexibly. <br><br>Childcare provision is another key issue. Although not formally part of the PEP, a childcare study has been conducted by the MOD’s Director of Children and Young People which reviews what childcare support Service personnel currently access, identifies best practice, and considers how best to use the £20 million LIBOR funds allocated to the MOD to improve childcare infrastructure. The findings of the study are currently being considered and will be shared later in the autumn.</p> answering member constituency Broxtowe answering member printed Anna Soubry question first answered 11/09/2014 16:50:27 answering member 3938 label Biography information for Anna Soubry
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker