{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answer.isMinisterialCorrection=false&hansardHeading=Armed+Forces+Covenant&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2015-07-06T15%3A18%3A31.52Z", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/385728", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/385728/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2013, the Government made £35 million available to deliver Armed Forces Covenant commitments from fines levied on banks for the attempted manipulation of Libor. The cross-Government Covenant Reference Group, which is chaired by the Cabinet Office and includes representatives from key Government Departments, the Devolved Administrations, the Service charity sector, and the three Service Families Federations, set the priorities for the fund. The first two tranches focused on mental health and support for Service families, while the third tranche was open to any project meeting the principles of the Covenant.<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2014, a further £40 million of Libor funds were made available specifically to support veterans with a housing need via the Veterans Accommodation Fund (VAF). The criteria and application process for both schemes were published on gov.uk.<\/p>
<\/p>
Both funds were administered by the Armed Forces Covenant team. Against the agreed priorities, applicants had to demonstrate evidence of need, experience of providing a service and value for money. A decision panel was convened to agree the final allocation of funding.<\/p>
<\/p>
The panel for the £35 million fund sat three times between 2012 and 2014 and included representatives from the Ministry of Defence Covenant and Financial Governance teams, H M Treasury, COBSEO, the three Service Families Federations, and the Welsh and Scottish Governments.<\/p>
<\/p>
The panel for the VAF sat on 7 July 2014 and included representatives from the Ministry of Defence Covenant and Financial Governance teams, H M Treasury, the Welsh and Scottish Governments, the Army Families Federation, The Royal British Legion and COBSEO Housing Cluster.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-06T15:18:31.52Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 27 June (HL501) regarding the distribution of the armed forces covenant (Libor) fund, who selected the charities for funding; when; and on what basis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2479", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laird"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Laird"} ], "uin" : "HL852"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/384570", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/384570/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Corporate Covenant provides an excellent opportunity for businesses and other organisations to declare their support for members of the Armed Forces community. To date, across the UK, more than 590 companies have pledged their support and the number is growing steadily. The Secretary of State for Defence has written to the FTSE 350 companies to challenge them to sign the Corporate Covenent.<\/p>
European Union (EU) procurement law does not permit the contract award procedure or any contract condition to discriminate against any supplier in the EU. An obligation to sign up and fulfil the Corporate Covenant is likely to disadvantage suppliers outside the UK, although we encourage potential suppliers to sign up to the pledge in every invitation to tender we issue. This is a voluntary approach that allows each organisation to reach their own decisions about the level of support they provide.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1542", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Philip Dunne"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ludlow"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Philip Dunne"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-29T15:35:11.393Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy that all government procurement contracts for goods and services include an obligation to sign up to and fulfil the armed forces corporation covenant.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "3354"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381405", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381405/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 June 2015 to Question 428 to the hon. Member for St. Helens North (Mr McGinn).<\/p>
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-05-28/428/<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/381405/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Hansard Extract HOC 428.doc"} , "title" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-22T15:40:40.413Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the regional distribution of money raised by fines issued for Libor manipulation has been in each year since its introduction.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1438", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Beamish"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Durham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Kevan Jones"} ], "uin" : "2716"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347251", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347251/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Mark Lancaster), in the House of Commons on 2 June 2015 to Question number 428 from the hon. Member for St. Helens North (Conor McGinn).<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "attachment" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347251/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "20150601-40M Veterans Accommodation Fund[1].doc HL 115.doc"} , "title" : "Veterans Accomodation Fund"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347251/answer/attachment/2", "fileName" : {"_value" : "20150601-35M LIBOR Fund(2).xls HL 115.xls"} , "title" : "LIBOR FUND (Excel Spreadsheet)"} ], "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-08T15:20:24.913Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-05-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, since it began, how much armed forces covenant funding has been allocated to projects in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2479", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laird"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Laird"} ], "uin" : "HL115"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347382", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347382/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence on the distribution of the £35 million LIBOR Fund and the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund is provided in the attached documents. Information on the £35 million LIBOR Fund is collated by country rather than region.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1544", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Milton Keynes North"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Lancaster"} , "attachment" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347382/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "20150601-40M Veterans Accommodation Fund[1].doc"} , "title" : "Veterans Accomodation Fund"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/347382/answer/attachment/2", "fileName" : {"_value" : "20150601-35M LIBOR Fund(2).xls HOC 428.xls"} , "title" : "LIBOR FUND"} ], "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-02T15:42:34.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-05-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what organisations in each region have benefitted from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund; and how much each such organisation has received.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4458", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Conor McGinn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "St Helens North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Conor McGinn"} ], "uin" : "428"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228517", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228517/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Local authorities share in our national commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, and have signed Community Covenants committing to support the Armed Forces community in their area and promote understanding amongst local people. Local councils and residents will know the needs of their communities and can decide their spending priorities appropriately. For information on the distribution of the £35 million LIBOR Fund and the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 March 2015, to Question 221590 to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr Coaker).<\/p> http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-01-21/221590/<\/p> Subsequent to that answer there been two further announcements about LIBOR funded projects:<\/p> <\/p> Gurkha Homes Project: £960,000 to Gurkha Homes Limited for various locations across England.<\/p> <\/p> Scottish Veterans' Garden City Association (SVGCA) Future Shared Ownership Consortium: £551,190 for Houses for Heroes in Scotland.<\/p> <\/p> As the hon. Member will have seen, the Chancellor announced in the Budget on 18 March that a total of £450 million of LIBOR fines had been used by this Government to support the Service charities and other good causes, including a further £75 million of funding over the next five years.<\/p> <\/p> The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on the numbers of people who have benefited, or who may benefit, from this funding. However, given the scope of some of these projects, we anticipate that - at a minimum - this will run into the tens of thousands.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3938", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anna Soubry"}
}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anna Soubry"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228104/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "HOC 221590 3 March 2015.doc"}
, "title" : "Hansard Extract Tuesday 3 March 2015"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces Covenant"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much LIBOR funding to date has been awarded to organisations or projects that benefit from the wider armed forces community (a) nationwide, (b) in England, (c) in Northern Ireland, (d) in Scotland and (e) in Wales.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1552", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison Seabeck"}
}
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, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alison Seabeck"}
], "uin" : "228139"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228108", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228108/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " For information on the distribution of the £35 million LIBOR Fund and the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 March 2015, to Question 221590 to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr Coaker).<\/p> http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-01-21/221590/<\/p> Subsequent to that answer there been two further announcements about LIBOR funded projects:<\/p> <\/p> Gurkha Homes Project: £960,000 to Gurkha Homes Limited for various locations across England.<\/p> <\/p> Scottish Veterans' Garden City Association (SVGCA) Future Shared Ownership Consortium: £551,190 for Houses for Heroes in Scotland.<\/p> <\/p> As the hon. Member will have seen, the Chancellor announced in the Budget on 18 March that a total of £450 million of LIBOR fines had been used by this Government to support the Service charities and other good causes, including a further £75 million of funding over the next five years.<\/p> <\/p> The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on the numbers of people who have benefited, or who may benefit, from this funding. However, given the scope of some of these projects, we anticipate that - at a minimum - this will run into the tens of thousands.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3938", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anna Soubry"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anna Soubry"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228108/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "HOC 221590 3 March 2015.doc"}
, "title" : "Hansard Extract Tuesday 3 March 2015"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales (i) have benefited and (ii) are expected to benefit from the LIBOR funding for armed forces and veterans' organisations that has been granted in each tranche to date.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1552", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison Seabeck"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alison Seabeck"}
], "uin" : "228140"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179552", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179552/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Armed Forces Covenant annual report, laid before the house on 16 December 2014, sets out the tremendous progress that was made during 2014. For a summary of the key points I refer the hon. Member to the written statement provided by my right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Fallon) on 16 December 2014, (Official Report, columns 82-83WS).<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3938", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anna Soubry"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Broxtowe"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anna Soubry"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179552/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "20141216 - WMS - Armed Forces Covenant.doc"}
, "title" : "Hansard extract - Armed Forces Covenant"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-23T17:33:09.04Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on strengthening the Armed Forces Covenant.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/384", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thirsk and Malton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Miss Anne McIntosh"}
], "uin" : "224372"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178480", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178480/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There were no expenses captured centrally. If there are expenses of this kind, they would be at a very local level, and would be extremely difficult to trace.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3938", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anna Soubry"}
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, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anna Soubry"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on (a) television, (b) newspaper, (c) online, (d) radio and (e) other forms of advertising using the phrase Armed Forces Covenant since January 2012.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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We have introduced a number of measures over the last few years as contribution towards meeting the objectives of the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure that the Armed Forces Community does not face disadvantage, patricularly in housing. This includes:
Funding for local authorities<\/strong>
We have set aside £200,000 in 2014/15 from the annual Disabled Facilities Grant funding for local authorities to fund home adaptations (eg ramps, walk-in showers, stairlifts) to meet the needs of disabled ex-service personnel who wish to live independently in their homes.
We have provided grants (totalling over £1 million) with MOD, to a small number of local authorities in 2011 and 2012 to support the successful integration of retired Gurkha soldiers who wished to settle in the UK.
Improved access to social housing<\/strong>
We have introduced protection to ensure that former and current Service personnel are not disadvantaged in accessing social housing because of the disadvantages of military life. We have made sure that seriously injured personnel and former members of the Armed Forces with urgent housing needs are always given high priority for social housing, and that serving personnel and those who have recently been discharged do not lose their qualification rights because of the requirement to move from base to base.
We have also encouraged local authorities to, in general, give sympathetic consideration to the housing needs of family members of serving or former Service personnel.
Preventing homelessness<\/strong>
We have introduced measures to provide support for specialist accommodation for veterans, and work with councils to prevent homelessness. We have also introduced initiatives such as Streetlink and No Second Night Out which ensure that when veterans end up sleeping rough they are offered care and support from local services.
Access to home ownership<\/strong>
Members of the Armed Forces have been given priority for Government-funded shared ownership schemes and are able to access Help to Buy: equity loan scheme. The priority status can be transferred to bereaved spouses or civil partners. We have also worked with MOD, credit reference agencies, and Royal Mail to standardise Forces' Post Office addresses so personnel are not disadvantaged when applying for mortgages.
<\/p>"}
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, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in funding to local authorities on their ability to support Armed Forces Community Covenants.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4243", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Jarvis"}
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