We remain committed to ensuring that our veterans can access gold standard services irrespective of where they live in the UK - including in Northern Ireland where circumstances mean a slightly different approach is necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Whilst skills is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, with further and higher education the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, the Government has shown time and time again that it is committed to supporting Northern Ireland, levelling up across the UK and strengthening our Union.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have invested £15m from the New Deal for Northern Ireland to enable the Department for the Economy to deliver the \u2018Skill Up\u2019 initiative, which will fully fund further education colleges and universities to provide approximately 15,000 training places to support key growth sectors.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4581", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Caine"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Caine"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-06-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-29T14:22:55.757Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is available for ex-service personnel in Northern Ireland who do not qualify for enhanced learning credits to fund (1) further, or (2) higher, educational courses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"} ], "uin" : "HL1028"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1349333", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1349333/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK Government has no current means to identify UK veterans who are resident in Northern Ireland. Due to the sensitivities of the legacy of Northern Ireland\u2019s past, many who served and now reside there do not feel safe disclosing their veteran status, and the question was not included in the 2021 Census in Northern Ireland as it was in England and Wales.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> The Office for Veterans\u2019 Affairs is working with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on alternative solutions.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4200", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord True"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord True"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-08-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-08-03T11:45:34.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK veterans are currently resident in Northern Ireland; and how that number is identified.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"}
], "uin" : "HL2266"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1347041", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1347041/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has been clear that it will deliver on its commitments to NI veterans as part of a wider package to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.<\/p> As at 31 March 2020 there were 3,558 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of a War Disablement Pension under the War Pension Scheme and 65 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of a tax-free monthly Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) residing in Northern Ireland.<\/p> <\/p> AFCS tax-free lump sum awards are paid to Service personnel and veterans as compensation for pain and suffering for an injury or illness that is predominantly caused or made worse by Service. Location data is not routinely updated following payment of a lump sum award. Where a lump sum award has been made at tariff levels 1-11 (reflecting a more serious injury/illness), the claimant will also be awarded a tax-free index-linked income stream known as a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).<\/p> <\/p> As at 31 March 2020 there were 654 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of the War Pension Mobility Supplement under the War Pension Scheme residing in Northern Ireland.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-01-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL11533"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-01-04T12:58:24.557Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many veterans in Northern Ireland are in receipt of (1) a war disablement pension, or (2) Armed Forces compensation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"}
], "uin" : "HL11532"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271918", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271918/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As at 31 March 2020 there were 3,558 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of a War Disablement Pension under the War Pension Scheme and 65 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of a tax-free monthly Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) residing in Northern Ireland.<\/p> <\/p> AFCS tax-free lump sum awards are paid to Service personnel and veterans as compensation for pain and suffering for an injury or illness that is predominantly caused or made worse by Service. Location data is not routinely updated following payment of a lump sum award. Where a lump sum award has been made at tariff levels 1-11 (reflecting a more serious injury/illness), the claimant will also be awarded a tax-free index-linked income stream known as a Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP).<\/p> <\/p> As at 31 March 2020 there were 654 UK Armed Forces veterans in receipt of the War Pension Mobility Supplement under the War Pension Scheme residing in Northern Ireland.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4306", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Goldie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Goldie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-01-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL11532"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-01-04T12:58:24.62Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-12-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many veterans in Northern Ireland are in receipt of a war pension scheme mobility supplement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"}
], "uin" : "HL11533"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1199434", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1199434/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made clear that the Government is committed to introducing legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles. This legislation will place information recovery and reconciliation at the heart of a revised legacy system that puts victims first. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has begun the process of engaging key partners on a way forward which will focus on reconciliation, delivering for victims and ensuring that all Service Personnel who served in Northern Ireland are treated as fairly as those who served overseas.<\/p> <\/p> Where appropriate, we will draw on the lessons from the Iraq Historic Allegations Team. In Northern Ireland, during the Troubles, the Armed Forces acted in support of the civil powers, within the UK. This is different to military action outside the UK.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-06-12T12:06:30.28Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-06-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government what lessons they learnt from the (1) process followed by, and (2) conclusions of, the Iraq Historic Allegations Team; whether any such lessons are applicable to any ongoing investigations into soldiers who served in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1994; and what plans they have, if any, to establish a similar team to oversee any such investigations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/648", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Maginnis of Drumglass"}
], "uin" : "HL5040"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228698", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/228698/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK's ex-Service community is largely elderly; almost half are over age 75 and 64% are over age 65. It is important that this country meets their needs, just as they answered the needs of their country; meeting the call of the nation during the First and Second World Wars, through national service, voluntary enlistment and the reserve forces.<\/p> To support this community, £5 million of LIBOR funding has been made available every year for the next five years for any UK veterans who are surviving World War Two veterans, those who undertook National Service and other voluntary enlisted veterans who, by virtue of their age, may need some focused support in relation to their health and social care needs.<\/p> The funds will not provide benevolence payments to individuals. Charities can bid for money to provide practical support and/or companionship to this group of veterans to improve their wellbeing. This might also include projects to build or enhance access to centres where elderly veterans can meet, or to promote the education of elderly veterans' needs, research and other support mechanisms.<\/p> The Ministry of Defence intends to administer the fund through a dedicated grant scheme. The terms of this scheme are being developed and will be announced in due course.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3428", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Astor of Hever"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-25T17:36:09.267Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether army veterans based in Northern Ireland will benefit from the £25 million healthcare fund for aged veterans announced in the Budget, and if so, how.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4216", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Empey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Empey"}
], "uin" : "HL5880"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179727", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179727/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Assisting our former Service personnel transition to civilian life is of major importance, as indeed is having in place a robust and effective resettlement system that helps our Service personnel on a number of levels.<\/p> <\/p> While the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not centrally record how much is spent on transitioning Service personnel to civilian life, the following table shows the number of individuals with a Northern Ireland postcode who have taken advantage of the services offered by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and are in employment.<\/p> <\/p> CTP Programme<\/strong><\/p><\/td> BT Postcodes<\/strong><\/p> Placements<\/strong><\/p> in Northern Ireland <\/strong><\/p><\/td> BT Postcodes Placements<\/strong><\/p> Outside Northern Ireland or unknown location<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Year <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Employment Support Programme<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 6<\/p><\/td> 3<\/p><\/td> 5<\/p><\/td> 4<\/p><\/td> 4<\/p><\/td> 5<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Full Support Programme<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 95<\/p><\/td> 130<\/p><\/td> 112<\/p><\/td> 76<\/p><\/td> 74<\/p><\/td> 89<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> BT postcodes placements outside NI or \u2018unknown location\u2019 \u2013 means individuals have recorded a NI address but their work location is outside NI (i.e. they may have a permanent residence in NI which they return to at weekends or holidays or they have not informed CTP of a permanent change of address)<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Employment Support Programme is for those who have served more than four but less than six years. These individuals do not receive the Individual Resettlement Training Costs Grant nor do they have an entitlement to Graduated Resettlement Time (i.e. paid time off for vocational training). However, they can take advantage of the many briefings available and they are supported in their search for employment by the CTP consultants and Job Finding Service, including access to the online jobs portal \u2018RightJob\u2019. They can also take advantage of resettlement training courses on a \u2018standby\u2019 basis in their own time.<\/p> <\/p> Service personnel who have served for six years or more are entitled to the Full Support Programme. This entitles them to the Individual Resettlement Training Costs Grant (IRTC) which is worth £534 per person.<\/p> <\/p> In addition, Service Leavers may claim Travel and Subsistence costs during their training; the amount of training is dependent on length of service up to a maximum of 35 days for those who have served for 16 years or more.<\/p> <\/p> The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) is the MOD\u2019s tri-Service focal point set up to provide Service personnel and their families with civilian housing information for those wishing to move to civilian accommodation at any point in their career, and to those during Armed Forces Resettlement to assist the transition to civilian life. Delivered through briefings, Housing Matters magazine publication, and one to one discussions where necessary. JSHAO also manages the MOD Referral Scheme supporting social housing in conjunction with Local Authorities and Housing Associations. The cost for providing advice is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3428", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Astor of Hever"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-03-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-03-03T17:15:04.39Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government how much has been spent to help members of the armed forces living in Northern Ireland with their transition back to civilian life in each of the last three years; and how much of that sum was spent on housing.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3801", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Browne of Belmont"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Browne of Belmont"}
], "uin" : "HL5005"}
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}
As set out by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last week, the Government\u2019s proposed package focuses on reconciliation, information recovery and ending the cycle of investigations that is not working for anyone.<\/p>
The Government remains clear however, that it will never accept any moral equivalence between those who upheld the law in Northern Ireland and those, on all sides, who sought to destroy it.<\/p>
These proposals will be considered as part of the ongoing intensive talks process with the NI parties, Irish Government and representatives of NI society, further to which we will bring forward legislation.<\/p>
<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-07-20T13:27:08.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-07-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure the protection of veterans who served in Northern Ireland while ensuring that the implementation of any such protection does not result in those responsible for terrorist offences evading justice.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown"}
], "uin" : "HL2030"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271917", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1271917/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "