Housing, Communities and Local Government

Heather Wheeler Excerpts

Tuesday 14th May 2019 Ministerial Corrections

[Tom Pursglove (Corby) (Con)]

Lack of knowledge of the armed forces covenant and of joined-up working in some cases is one of the key barriers to veterans getting the help that they need. What more can we do to increase joined-up working and awareness?

[Mrs Wheeler]

My hon. Friend will have to excuse me for turning my back—there are not too many daggers in it today. We have been asking councils to nominate a senior councillor in every single council to be a veterans’ champion. I will audit that and ensure that it happens. The Veterans Board—the inter-ministerial Government board—meets regularly; in fact, we have our next meeting in only about three weeks’ time.

[Official Report, 8 April 2019, Vol. 658, c. 22.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Mrs Wheeler):

An error has been identified in my response to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Tom Pursglove).

The correct response should have been:

[Mrs Wheeler]

My hon. Friend will have to excuse me for turning my back—there are not too many daggers in it today. We have been encouraging councils to nominate a senior councillor in every single council to be an armed forces champion. I will ask local authorities to let us know who has been appointed. The Veterans Board—the inter-ministerial Government board—meets regularly; in fact, we have our next meeting in only about three weeks’ time.