Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress she has made on the digitalisation of Government services.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In January, we published A roadmap for modern digital government, which brings together many of the most important digitisation initiatives across the public sector, including work to digitise key health services through the NHS App, expand Making Tax Digital, and develop a streamlined digital border and immigration system. Joining up public services is at the heart of this roadmap, which aims to make interactions with government simpler, faster, and more personal.
However, we have already made significant progress in expanding digital pathways and transforming public services.
Since its launch in July 2025, the GOV.UK app has been downloaded 360,000 times. Additionally, GOV.UK One Login is steadily growing: 15 million people have verified their identity, allowing them to access 122 government services, with more being added regularly. Through the GOV.UK Wallet, we’ve rolled out Digital Veteran Cards, providing nearly two million veterans with phone-based proof of status, and mobile driving licences are currently in development.
The government is also exploring ways to transform delivery with AI, such as through the Prime Minister’s AI Exemplars, a suite of AI-enabled tools used to save time and increase productivity by digitising processes across education, health, probation, and planning services.
Alongside the roadmap, we launched CustomerFirst, a new unit designed to drive end-to-end service transformation and improve the customer offering across government. It is already partnering with the DVLA, helping them to radically rethink how they handle millions of customer interactions each year across motoring services.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to dentistry services for (a) veterans and (b) people suffering with long-term illnesses.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of the challenges faced by many in accessing a National Health Service dentist, including people suffering with long-term illnesses, and valued members of the Armed Forces community, such as our respected veterans who have spent their careers defending our country.
We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available since April 2025.
ICBs are also recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. Further information is available at the following link:
Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:
under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education;
pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;
being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges;
receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits; and
receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of dental care given to (a) veterans and (b) those suffering with long-term illnesses.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are aware of the challenges faced by many in accessing a National Health Service dentist, including people suffering with long-term illnesses, and valued members of the Armed Forces community, such as our respected veterans who have spent their careers defending our country.
We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available since April 2025.
ICBs are also recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
We are committed to delivering fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. As a first step, on 16 December we published the Government’s response to the public consultation on the quality and payment reforms to the NHS dental contract. The changes will be introduced from April 2026. These reforms will put patients with the greatest need first, incentivising urgent care and complex treatments. Further information is available at the following link:
Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:
under 18 years old, or under 19 years old and in full-time education;
pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;
being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges;
receiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits; and
receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability.
Asked by: Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat - Yeovil)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to raise awareness amongst (a) serving and (b) former military personal of the risks posed by wealth creation scams.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department's Fraud, Bribery and Corruption training for all personnel includes advice on fraud in personal life. Personal fraud risks are also addressed through fraud prevention campaigns aimed at Serving personnel, and former military personnel through BFBS.
The Department is also working in partnership with RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the Financial Times Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign to develop an online financial education programme, funded by the Association of British Insurers, for all serving personnel, their families and veterans.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure consistency in the quality and delivery of the Armed Forces training across all NHS trusts.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Armed Forces National Training and Education programme has been developed as a series of modules which will be delivered by a dedicated Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) trainer within each region. The Programme comprises a series of evidence-based modules that will be delivered through multiple channels, including face-to-face sessions facilitated by the team of Regional Trainers, national webinars, and e-learning packages. Plans are underway to develop a “Train the Trainer” module to support wider implementation and ensure consistency in both quality and delivery.
All module content is subject to quality assurance by the NHS Armed Forces National Team and the VCHA. The programme will undergo continuous evaluation, with updates and refinements made as appropriate.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 35028 on LGBT Veterans Independent Review, what progress he has made on recommendations (a) 31, (b) 35, (c) 36, (d) 38 and (e) 42.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
For recommendation 31, NHS England, in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs), continues to encourage participation in the Veteran Friendly GP accreditation scheme. To date, over 99% of primary care networks have at least one accredited GP in their area. For recommendation 35, since June 2025, 100% of National Health Service trusts have been accredited as ‘veteran aware’. This achievement, led by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, reflects a national commitment to providing compassionate, personalised care to the Armed Forces Community.
As for recommendations 36 and 38, I refer the Hon. Member to the answers I gave on 31 October 2025 to Questions 84296 and 84297.
Finally, for recommendation 42, we recognise the importance of training for NHS staff on the needs of the Armed Forces Community. The NHS National Armed Forces Training and Education Programme will see NHS staff across England receiving dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. This will be provided through a variety of channels: face to face; webinars; train the trainer; and e-learning. This launched in October 2025 and is supported by £1.8 million of investment over three years.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the health outcomes of veterans in the West Midlands.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
As well as being able to access all National Health Services across the United Kingdom, NHS England has introduced several bespoke services to improve the healthcare support available to veterans. These are: Op RESTORE which supports veterans with service-related physical health problems; Op COURAGE which supports veterans with a mental health pathway; and Op NOVA which supports veterans in the justice system.
In addition, the veteran-aware trust and the veteran-friendly accreditation schemes raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals of the specific needs of veterans. These schemes provide support to ensure appropriate signposting and referrals to relevant veteran and wider services within the NHS. All trusts in the West Midlands have been accredited as veteran aware and all primary care networks in the West Midlands have at least one accredited practice.
In May 2025, a national training and education plan was announced to help veterans benefit from improved and targeted healthcare. NHS staff across England will receive dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. This will be rolled out across the NHS from November 2025.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on implementing recommendation 38 of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published in May 2023.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Recommendation 36 relates to the expansion of the Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) accreditation scheme to include care homes and hospices. In July 2024, a pilot was launched by the Royal Star and Garter, supported by the VCHA. An evaluation of the pilot, led by the Royal British Legion, commenced in summer 2025. The evaluation findings will assess the practical viability of the scheme and will be accompanied by a full analysis of the options and associated financial costs.
Recommendation 38 relates to treatment for addiction. Veterans can access all substance misuse services available to non-veterans. In addition, the National Health Service has commissioned Op COURAGE, the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service which provides support to veterans with substance misuse and mental health issues. NHS England are developing plans to provide training and education about the needs of the Armed Forces community to NHS staff through the National Armed Forces training and education programme. This will include NHS services that provide support to veterans with addiction issues.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on implementing recommendation 36 of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, published in May 2023.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Recommendation 36 relates to the expansion of the Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) accreditation scheme to include care homes and hospices. In July 2024, a pilot was launched by the Royal Star and Garter, supported by the VCHA. An evaluation of the pilot, led by the Royal British Legion, commenced in summer 2025. The evaluation findings will assess the practical viability of the scheme and will be accompanied by a full analysis of the options and associated financial costs.
Recommendation 38 relates to treatment for addiction. Veterans can access all substance misuse services available to non-veterans. In addition, the National Health Service has commissioned Op COURAGE, the veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service which provides support to veterans with substance misuse and mental health issues. NHS England are developing plans to provide training and education about the needs of the Armed Forces community to NHS staff through the National Armed Forces training and education programme. This will include NHS services that provide support to veterans with addiction issues.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Civil Service is committed to a truly diverse workforce and culture of openness and inclusivity, not as ends in themselves but as means of delivering better outcomes to the citizens we serve. As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.
Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010, which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.
Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers. People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career, contributing to the Opportunity Mission and to the wider economy. The department ran the annual GFiE accredited Care Leaver Internship Scheme in August 2025.