Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his department's policies of the findings of The Armed Forces & Society survey produced by Lord Ashcroft.

The Ministry of Defence was grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ashcroft for conducting what proved to be a very useful survey of the attitudes of the public and the Armed Forces towards each other. While there were many positive findings, of particular concern was the perception amongst a majority of the public that veterans would have physical or mental problems as a result of service. Lord Ashcroft described this as ‘not only untrue, but damaging'.

The 2012 survey provided valuable insight into the relationship between the Armed Forces and the nation they serve. This relationship is at the heart of the Armed Forces Covenant, which we published in May 2011. A great deal has been achieved through this mechanism in the last few years across a wide range of areas, including healthcare, accommodation, education, and welfare.

We will go on looking at what more we can do for our Armed Forces, their families, and Veterans, to ensure that they continue to receive the recognition they deserve, and if necessary, whatever help they may require.