Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with the maritime trade unions to improve the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of merchant seafarers employed by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Through their crucial work with the Royal Navy and our allies, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are vital to our national security, keeping us all safe. We thank the Maritime Trade Unions for their support in reaching a resolution to the recent pay dispute with RFA members which recognises their unique contribution to Defence.
The Ministry of Defence continues to work collaboratively with the Maritime Trade Unions to deliver a wider recovery programme for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, including by addressing recruitment and retention challenges. These reforms will improve the wider employee offer for those serving to ensure that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary can continue to perform its vital role.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to resolve the industrial dispute in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Answered by Maria Eagle
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel are highly valued specialists. We are dedicated to hearing their concerns and maintaining an ongoing dialogue to address the issues raised during the current pay dispute. As negotiations are still in progress, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the specifics of our discussions with the Maritime Trade Unions.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support veterans in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in Runcorn and Helsby, and throughout the North West of England, get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.
A range of support is in place for veterans. In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families.
Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As of 24 November 2024, over 2,850 referrals have been made and nearly 816 veterans have been supported into housing.
The Prime Minister announced the continuation of funding for the cross-UK Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme and Op FORTITUDE. This is in addition to his commitment earlier in the year that veterans will be exempt from local connection and residency tests when applying for social housing in England.
Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military service in search of new job opportunities.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to take steps to invest in research into Gulf conflict related illnesses in order to support veterans with such illnesses.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
As a nation, we owe a great debt to our Armed Forces community, including some 53,400 UK Service personnel who were deployed to the 1990/91 Gulf War, and it is right that they are held in the highest esteem by the Government and people of the UK.
It has long been accepted by the UK Government that some veterans are ill and that some of this ill-health is related to their Gulf service. The most impactful way to support Gulf War veterans with adverse health conditions is for them to present to their GP to seek appropriate treatment for their symptoms, including referral to specialist services if appropriate. In the UK, when individuals leave the Armed Forces, it is the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations that become responsible for the provision of healthcare.
There is also financial support available to veterans whose illness is due to service. For individuals that served during the 1990/1991 Gulf War, claims can be considered under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) which provides compensation for illness or injury caused as a result of service in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005. Each case for compensation is considered on its own merits.
The MOD has sponsored significant research into the possible health effects of the conflict on veterans. Contemporary medical and scientific understanding from the mid-1990s onwards has identified no distinct disease process or pathology underlying Gulf symptoms and illness.
In line with the Medical Research Council (MRC) review of 2003, which recommended no further research on possible causation of Gulf illness, the MOD has no plans to institute further research into Gulf War related illnesses nor to hold an inquiry. The UK Government's strategy on research topics and studies into the health of Gulf War veterans has been informed and overseen by independent scientific experts nominated by MRC, taking account of published peer-reviewed international literature and international studies.
In September 2023, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs convened a group of clinicians, leading academics, and veterans’ experts to interrogate the evidence around Gulf War illnesses and to explore options for further work. The group will meet annually to ensure that new evidence continues to be considered in the future.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to veterans with Gulf conflict related illnesses.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
As a nation, we owe a great debt to our Armed Forces community, including some 53,400 UK Service personnel who were deployed to the 1990/91 Gulf War, and it is right that they are held in the highest esteem by the Government and people of the UK.
It has long been accepted by the UK Government that some veterans are ill and that some of this ill-health is related to their Gulf service. The most impactful way to support Gulf War veterans with adverse health conditions is for them to present to their GP to seek appropriate treatment for their symptoms, including referral to specialist services if appropriate. In the UK, when individuals leave the Armed Forces, it is the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations that become responsible for the provision of healthcare.
There is also financial support available to veterans whose illness is due to service. For individuals that served during the 1990/1991 Gulf War, claims can be considered under the War Pension Scheme (WPS) which provides compensation for illness or injury caused as a result of service in the Armed Forces before 6 April 2005. Each case for compensation is considered on its own merits.
The MOD has sponsored significant research into the possible health effects of the conflict on veterans. Contemporary medical and scientific understanding from the mid-1990s onwards has identified no distinct disease process or pathology underlying Gulf symptoms and illness.
In line with the Medical Research Council (MRC) review of 2003, which recommended no further research on possible causation of Gulf illness, the MOD has no plans to institute further research into Gulf War related illnesses nor to hold an inquiry. The UK Government's strategy on research topics and studies into the health of Gulf War veterans has been informed and overseen by independent scientific experts nominated by MRC, taking account of published peer-reviewed international literature and international studies.
In September 2023, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs convened a group of clinicians, leading academics, and veterans’ experts to interrogate the evidence around Gulf War illnesses and to explore options for further work. The group will meet annually to ensure that new evidence continues to be considered in the future.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to Halton Veterans Legion for a veterans reunion to mark the sinking of USS Evans.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence recognises the tragic events surrounding the sinking of the USS FRANK E. EVANS that led to the loss of 74 lives. While the Ministry of Defence goes to great lengths to commemorate the actions of Service personnel, it cannot provide support in all cases. There are no plans to provide support in this instance.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of housing for armed forces personnel.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) fully recognises that the provision of safe, good quality and well-maintained accommodation is essential to operational output, and providing such accommodation is one of the MOD’s top priorities.
In the last seven years, MOD has invested more than 936 million in SFA improvements and currently just under 97% of MOD Service Family Accommodation (SFA) meet or exceed the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. However, we are looking to go further and the 2022-23 improvement programme is based on a funding level of £176 million which will also improve the thermal efficiency of homes.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of housing accommodation for armed forces personnel.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) fully recognises that the provision of safe, good quality and well-maintained accommodation is essential to treating our people properly and as well as to operational output it remains one of the MOD’s top priorities.
In the last seven years, MOD has invested more than £936 million in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) improvements and currently more than 98% of SFA meet or exceed the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. However, we are looking to go further and the 2022-23 improvement programme is based on a funding level of £176 million which will also improve the thermal efficiency of homes.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support armed services personnel and veterans who experience mental ill health.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (DPMHWS) 2017-2022 was launched on 20 July. Covering all Defence people, the Strategy identifies the need for strong partnerships with the Department of Health, the National Health Service (NHS) in England and the Devolved Administrations and the charitable sector and for a new operating model focusing on Promote, Prevent, Treat and Detect. The Strategy is well resourced through connected agencies and services, and it will be taken forward by the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan. The DPMHWS can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-people-mental-health-and-wellbeing-strategy
The NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations have responsibility for the provision of healthcare, including mental healthcare, for former Armed Forces personnel. In line with the DPMHWS, the Ministry of Defence works closely with the Department of Health and NHS to facilitate a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the Armed Forces Community.
We encourage Service personnel and veterans wishing to seek help with mental health problems to visit: www.gov.uk/mental-health-support-for-the-uk-armed-forces. Veterans can also call the 24-hour veterans' mental health helpline, provided by Combat Stress, on 0800 138 1619. Information and advice on services is also available through Veterans UK and the Veterans Gateway.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Independent - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will meet armed forces veterans and personnel in Weaver Vale constituency to discuss armed forces pay.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Defence Ministers regularly meet and speak with members of the Armed Forces and veterans about a range of issues, including terms and conditions of service. If the hon. Member would like to contact my office, I would be happy to meet him to discuss this issue.