The Government is committed to supporting all our veterans, and to ensuring that they continue to thrive after leaving the services.<\/p>
<\/p>
Since 2014, the Government has committed £773m of LIBOR fines to support Armed Forces and Emergency Service charities.<\/p>
<\/p>
As part of this package, the Chancellor awarded the Royal British Legion £3m to develop a Veterans Mobility Fund, designed to meet the wellbeing needs of veterans discharged with service-attributable serious physical injury. At the same time, the Chancellor also awarded £10m to develop a Veterans Hearing Fund, providing support to veterans who suffered hearing loss during service.<\/p>
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In 2019, at the Royal British Legion\u2019s request, the Treasury authorised the transfer of almost £1.5m from the Veterans Mobility Fund to the Veterans Hearing Fund, following dramatic increases in the rate of applications for the Hearing Fund and a comparatively static application rate for the Mobility Fund. Both the Veterans Hearing and Veterans Mobility Funds have now closed.<\/p>
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Since 2020, we have announced a further £10m funding to support veterans\u2019 mental health, £475k to support the development of a digital and data strategy for the sector, £5m to enable charities to address the impact of events in Afghanistan on veterans, and a £5m Veterans\u2019 Health Innovation Fund.<\/p>
<\/p>
More than 100 service charities, including those who support veterans, also benefitted from £6m of the £750m to support the charity sector announced by the Chancellor in April 21 in support of COVID-19.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Chancellor engages with the Secretary of State for Defence routinely on defence matters.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-01T13:34:26.767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans Mobility Fund"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on reinstating the Veterans\u2019 Mobility Fund.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96669"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545693", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545693/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The responsibility for veterans' healthcare, including the provision of specialist wheelchairs and orthotic equipment, is primarily the responsibility of the National Health Service in England and the Devolved Administrations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an assessment of changing MOD policy to allow veterans to access specialist wheelchairs and other orthotic equipment through the Defence Medical Services.<\/p>
<\/p>
Where injury is directly attributable to an individual's time in service (irrespective of how long since they left the Armed Forces), the Veterans Trauma Network is an NHS service that provides specialist care and support, so veterans are not waiting longer than necessary to access the treatment they need. This includes ensuring veterans have access to appropriate equipment to meet their clinical needs.<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, in England, the NHS has a range of equipment available for those who need it, following an assessment of clinical need. The mobility equipment provided through the NHS is readily available and appropriate to meet the clinical needs experienced by veterans. There is an increasing amount of bespoke NHS support for veterans, such as Personal Health Budgets for Wheelchairs.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-02T10:24:39.093Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Veterans: Disability Aids"} , "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 assessment he has made of the potential merits of changing his Department's policy to allow veterans regardless of how long they have spent out of the armed forces to access specialist wheelchairs and other orthotic equipment through the Defence Medical Services if their injuries are attributable to their service.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96670"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545694", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545694/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Medical Discharge from the Armed Forces requires a diagnosis and an assessment of the individual service person\u2019s deployability.<\/p>
<\/p>
Service personnel have a Structured Mental Health Assessment at their discharge medical examination, which identifies any previously undiagnosed mental health needs and enables signposting and referral where necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, the Defence Medical Services works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. MOD\u2019s Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) are accessible for up to six months after discharge to complete therapeutic work in progress and to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.<\/p>
<\/p>
In England, the NHS Op COURAGE provides a complete mental healthcare pathway for service leavers, with similar services in other parts of the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "96673"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-05T17:20:59.19Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Discharges"} , "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, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that people are not medically discharged from the Armed Forces for mental health reasons without first receiving (a) a formal diagnosis, (b) information on treatment and support options and (c) referral to appropriate services where clinically recommended.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96671"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545695", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545695/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The medical discharge process is delegated to the single Services to afford each branch of the Armed Forces the necessary flexibility to respond effectively to the unique and varying environments in which their people are employed. While each of the single Services' medical discharge process is subject to regular review, Defence has no plans to commission an independent review.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-02T10:24:17.22Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Discharges"} , "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 his Department will commission an independent review into the medical discharge process in the armed forces.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96672"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545701", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545701/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Medical Discharge from the Armed Forces requires a diagnosis and an assessment of the individual service person\u2019s deployability.<\/p>
<\/p>
Service personnel have a Structured Mental Health Assessment at their discharge medical examination, which identifies any previously undiagnosed mental health needs and enables signposting and referral where necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, the Defence Medical Services works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. MOD\u2019s Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) are accessible for up to six months after discharge to complete therapeutic work in progress and to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.<\/p>
<\/p>
In England, the NHS Op COURAGE provides a complete mental healthcare pathway for service leavers, with similar services in other parts of the UK.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "96671"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-05T17:20:59.24Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces: Discharges"} , "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 steps his Department is taking to ensure that mental health assessments for people leaving the military with a physical injury are robust.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96673"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545702", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1545702/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
NHS England records the numbers of veterans accessing the directly commissioned bespoke veterans' mental health service Op COURAGE, which is comprised of three services: the Transition, Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS); Complex Treatment Service (CTS); and the High Intensity Service (HIS). As at 30 September 2022, 21,687 veterans have been referred to TILS, with 2,728 referrals to CTS and 1,576 referrals to HIS.<\/p>
Veteran status is also collected by mental health providers for veterans accessing Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services. Between April and June 2022, there were 4,919 referrals relating to veterans.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4492", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Caulfield"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewes"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Maria Caulfield"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-01T16:07:36.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-11-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Mental Health Services: Veterans"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to record how many veterans are seen by NHS commissioned services for mental health support.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4873", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachel Hopkins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Luton South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachel Hopkins"} ], "uin" : "96674"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1543291", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1543291/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Ministry of Justice does not collect or hold any data on the occupation or previous occupations of defendants at any stage of possession proceedings up to and including eviction, nor whether parties to possession proceedings have served in the armed forces.<\/p>
<\/p>