Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of legislating to compel dogs to be put on leads in public places.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There is a balance to be struck between protecting the wider public and their animals from dog attacks, the freedom people enjoy when walking their dogs, and the welfare of those dogs including the freedom to exhibit normal behaviours. We currently have no plans to legislate to compel dogs to be on leads in public places.
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs already states that it is best practice to keep dogs on leads around other animals. It is also an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to allow a dog to be on a designated road unless it is on a lead.
Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, enforcement authorities have powers to make Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) insisting dogs are kept on leads in certain areas. Where a dog has been involved in anti-social behaviour, enforcement authorities can also issue community protection notices which could require a dog to be kept on a lead in public.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Op Courage awareness campaign since its launch on 9 January 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In January 2024, NHS England launched a national campaign to raise awareness of Op COURAGE, and encourage veterans struggling with their mental health to seek help from the service. The campaign, which runs until the end of March 2024, features veterans who have used Op COURAGE and includes a toolkit and a film featuring high-profile veteran JJ Chalmers. Phase two of the campaign activity includes increased social media, broadcasts, and regional press, particularly within areas of higher veteran populations.
The Government has not made any assessment of the effectiveness of the awareness campaign as Op COURAGE providers have shared anecdotal feedback that there has been a rise in referrals since the launch of this campaign.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken to promote Op Courage to veterans.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In January 2024, NHS England launched a national campaign to raise awareness of Op COURAGE, and encourage veterans struggling with their mental health to seek help from the service. The campaign, which runs until the end of March 2024, features veterans who have used Op COURAGE and includes a toolkit and a film featuring high-profile veteran JJ Chalmers. Phase two of the campaign activity includes increased social media, broadcasts, and regional press, particularly within areas of higher veteran populations.
The Government has not made any assessment of the effectiveness of the awareness campaign as Op COURAGE providers have shared anecdotal feedback that there has been a rise in referrals since the launch of this campaign.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will have discussions with local authorities on introducing veteran-awareness training for local authority social care teams.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
There are no immediate plans to implement specific training for local authority social care teams. Instead, the Principal Social Work Network for Adults across England meet on a regular basis to review all aspects of social work practice and training, underpinned by statutory and policy guidance, which includes the needs of the veteran community. This national network comprises of representatives from all settings including local authorities, National Health Service bodies, the voluntary sector, and Ministry of Defence organisations, and shares an undertaking to develop the competence of the workforce to meet the needs of all vulnerable groups, including veterans and their families and carers.
The Government has an ambition to make the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran by 2028. Veterans are entitled to the same social care and support as the civilian population in England.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of his Department’s funding is allocated to (a) employing and (b) supporting armed forces champions in jobcentre plus districts.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The funding for Armed Forces Champions forms part of the overall allocation for Jobcentre Work Coaches and Leaders. There is no specific funding separately identifiable for the role of either employing or supporting our Armed Forces Champions, however the Department is committed to providing 11 dedicated Armed Forces Champion lead posts who oversee 50 Armed Forces Champions posts across the DWP Jobcentre network.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15405 on LGBT Veterans Independent Review, whether his Department has plans to increase the accessibility of the application process for LGBT veterans who are seeking (a) financial compensation and (b) other non-financial restorative measures.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence continues to work at pace to establish an appropriate scheme for the financial award and aims to follow a similar application process as the non-financial award recommendations. Development of the scheme and the application process is underway.
The Government worked with LGBT Veterans and charities at pace to implement an accessible process for LGBT veterans to apply for restorative measures. While there are no current plans to change the application process, Defence will continue to review it to ensure it is appropriate and accessible. We are committed to ensuring that all restorative measures are easily accessible for our valued LGBT veterans.
In the meantime, Defence will continue to engage with stakeholders and is committed to providing updates on the development of the scheme; eligibility criteria; and information on the application process on the ‘LGBT Veterans: support and next steps’ GOV.UK page as soon as possible.
For those with further accessibility requirements, Defence provides a Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), which includes assistance in completion of application forms. Further information on this service can be found on their GOV.UK page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/veterans-welfare-service).
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15405 on LGBT Veterans Independent Review, whether his Department plans to create a single application form for LGBT veterans who are applying for financial compensation.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Defence continues to work at pace to establish an appropriate scheme for the financial award and aims to follow a similar application process as the non-financial award recommendations. Development of the scheme and the application process is underway.
The Government worked with LGBT Veterans and charities at pace to implement an accessible process for LGBT veterans to apply for restorative measures. While there are no current plans to change the application process, Defence will continue to review it to ensure it is appropriate and accessible. We are committed to ensuring that all restorative measures are easily accessible for our valued LGBT veterans.
In the meantime, Defence will continue to engage with stakeholders and is committed to providing updates on the development of the scheme; eligibility criteria; and information on the application process on the ‘LGBT Veterans: support and next steps’ GOV.UK page as soon as possible.
For those with further accessibility requirements, Defence provides a Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), which includes assistance in completion of application forms. Further information on this service can be found on their GOV.UK page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/veterans-welfare-service).
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on developing the Universal Support programme as it relates to veterans.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Universal Support is a new, voluntary employment programme for disabled people, those with health conditions and those with additional barriers to employment, and this will include veterans. The programme will offer veterans up to 12 months of ‘place and train’ support from a dedicated keyworker – helping them to find a suitable role and providing tailored support for the participant and their employer to help sustain that work.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15403 on Jobcentres: Armed Forces, for what reason his Department does not employ specific metrics to assess the performance of Armed Forces Champions in Jobcentres.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The performance of Armed Forces Champions is reviewed in line with the Department’s performance management approach that includes regular one-to-ones with line managers to discuss team objectives, personal development and career progression.
There are no specific metrics used, but good performance and achievements are recognised. In those areas where there are particularly high levels of demand, for example garrison towns, the local manager will ensure that the right level of support can be accessed.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15403 on Jobcentres: Armed Forces, how the performance of Armed Forces Champions in Jobcentres is (a) reviewed and (b) managed.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The performance of Armed Forces Champions is reviewed in line with the Department’s performance management approach that includes regular one-to-ones with line managers to discuss team objectives, personal development and career progression.
There are no specific metrics used, but good performance and achievements are recognised. In those areas where there are particularly high levels of demand, for example garrison towns, the local manager will ensure that the right level of support can be accessed.