Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to support former armed services' personnel to readjust to civilian life by providing (a) low cost mortgages, (b) low interest loans to start a business, (c) payment of tuition fees and living expenses for university or vocational educational and (d) health care bespoke to individual needs.

There are no plans to introduce such legislation. As Lord Ashcroft highlighted in his recent review of transition arrangements, the measures we already have in place ensure that the vast majority of Service leavers make a successful transition to civilian life. Amongst many others, these measures include:

- resettlement and career assistance from the Ministry of Defence funded Career Transition Partnership;
- funding for nationally recognised qualifications through Enhanced Learning Credits and;
- a range of schemes to help veterans and their families secure appropriate accommodation, detailed in the answer I gave on 28 April 2014, (Official Report, columns 442-443W) to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr Afriyie).

Healthcare provided by the National Health Service is already bespoke to individual needs, and reflects the aspirations of the Armed Forces covenant.