Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the document entitled Armed Forces Covenant Duty Statutory Guidance, published on 8 November 2022 among (a) Departments, (b) local authorities and (c) other public bodies.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We are delivering on our commitment to put the Covenant fully into law. This new Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty will apply to all Government Departments and Devolved Governments, expanding from three policy areas at a local level, to 14 broad and vital policy areas affecting the Armed Forces community. This law will make sure that respect for our Armed Forces community is not just spoken but woven into the very fabric of our policy and service delivery decisions.
This Government remains steadfast in our commitment—not only to those who wear the uniform, but to the families who support them, and the loved ones who carry on after their loss. By placing the Covenant at the heart of Government decision-making, and through the introduction of VALOUR, we are building a system that will deliver on the promise we’ve made, and giving our people the deal they deserve.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from devolved administrations on the potential impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to more policy areas.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
In developing policy to support putting the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law, over 150 organisations, including representatives from the Devolved Administrations, have taken part in the Ministry of Defence’s roundtable discussions and workshops. This is part of an ongoing extensive research and engagement programme to identify areas for inclusion in the Covenant Duty extension where the Armed Forces community may experience disadvantage.
The UK Government will continue to work proactively with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments throughout the legislation process.