Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much additional funding they have made available to support (1) the Armed Forces, and (2) veterans, since June.

In July 2020, the Chancellor agreed to supplement the Defence Budget by nearly £200 million of additional funding for Service Family Accommodation and improvements to military estates across the UK. This additional investment will improve life for Armed Forces and over 5,000 personnel and their families will have homes modernised with new kitchens, bathrooms and furnishings including reroofing to reduce the risk of mould and damp.

We are aware that COVID-19 has placed extra challenges on our veteran community, particularly in terms of mental health. As such, £6 million of funding has been secured from the Treasury, which has gone to 100 different Armed Forces charities across the country. Alongside this, HMG have also commissioned a new study by King's College London, into the specific impact of COVID-19 on the veteran community. This study will provide evidence about the impact of the pandemic on the veterans' community and highlight any specific needs or impacts that might need to be addressed.