Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support he plans to make available to homeless veterans in the next five years.

The Ministry of Defence does not have primary responsibility for homeless veterans but works closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), other Government Departments, veterans' organisations and other service providers to ensure a coordinated and structured approach to homelessness amongst a small minority of veterans. Our aim is both to prevent new Service leavers becoming homeless and to provide an effective safety net for existing homeless veterans. Current measures to achieve this include enhanced housing advice and assistance to all Service personnel, and an extension of the Forces Help to Buy Scheme until 2018. In addition, the DCLG has extended the period within which veterans are given priority for Government funded shared ownership schemes, from 12 to 24 months after service. Support to our veterans, including the homeless, is provided through the Veterans UK helpline and website, the Veterans Welfare Service and the Veterans Information Service which contacts veterans 12 months after their discharge. The Veterans Gateway, launched on 20 June by a consortium of charities led by the Royal British Legion, provides a 24 hour advice service to help with issues such as finance, housing and health.