Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to help support armed forces (a) personnel, (b) veterans, and (c) families in the context of the rise in the cost of living.

The Armed Forces' community, like everyone else, is subject to the effects of inflationary and cost of living pressures. Defence has frozen the daily food charge for our Armed Forces personnel and has capped accommodation charges at one per cent. We are also ensuring that the council tax rebate reaches those in military accommodation, and increasing the availability of free wraparound childcare at the start of the new academic year.

Support for veterans is provided by a number of Government Departments and is overseen by the Office for Veterans' Affairs within the Cabinet Office. Officials at Veterans UK will process Winter Fuel Payments for eligible veterans whose only government-paid income is from a War Disablement Pension. Through its Veterans Welfare Service, Veterans UK provides one-to-one welfare support and advice to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants.