Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans that joined the armed forces aged (a) 18 or under and (b) 19 or older have applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

We have a network of Armed Forces Champions in each Jobcentre Plus district who support work coaches in understanding the range of support available to service leavers and ensure they are actively signposted to appropriate organisations.

Our National Employer and Partnership Team also work with national employer and partner organisations to help ex-HM armed forces service leavers into employment. In addition, HM armed forces personnel are also one of the specified priority groups for the Work and Health Programme. This allows for early voluntary entry to the programme at the most appropriate time in their claim for those who would benefit from specialist employment support to find work.