Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Dehenna Davison Excerpts
Thursday 27th May 2021

(2 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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My hon. Friend is spot on. He is absolutely right that the digital transformation of Government should make it easier for citizens to interact with Government, and to receive services quickly—everything from the renewal of passports to making sure that they can book appointments—but it is also the case that back-office functions in Government can be made even more efficient through the effective deployment of GDS’s superb cadre of civil servants. He has championed this quite rightly and I hope to work with him in future to make sure that we do even more.

Dehenna Davison Portrait Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland) (Con)
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What recent steps the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has taken to support the interests of veterans.

Leo Docherty Portrait The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)
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The Government and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs are committed to delivering the veterans strategy. By doing so, we will establish a gold standard of care and opportunity for veterans in the UK. We will address historical issues that have negatively impacted some groups of veterans and we will ensure that all veterans are celebrated for their skills, their courage and their magnificent contribution to our national life.

Dehenna Davison Portrait Dehenna Davison [V]
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It is a real pleasure to hear from my hon. Friend at the Dispatch Box for the first time since he took his post. Will he join me in thanking all our veterans who have committed their lives to protect and defend us, and to whom we will always owe a debt of gratitude? Will he confirm that it will be the Government’s unwavering ambition to ensure that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran, whether that veteran resides in Brighton, Buckie or indeed Bishop Auckland?

Leo Docherty Portrait Leo Docherty
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I can absolutely confirm that that is our ambition. I look forward to publishing the updated veterans action plan later this year. May I put on record my thanks for my hon. Friend’s magnificent work in Bishop Auckland to celebrate the important role of veterans in her community?