Johnny Mercer: The Office for Veterans' Affairs has conducted extensive research with veterans and charities to understand the current service provided by the Veterans' Gateway. Based on the feedback received, we plan to improve information and content on GOV.UK as well as developing a new comprehensive signposting tool, ensuring veterans receive the right help as quickly as possible. We plan to regularly...
Johnny Mercer: The Office for Veterans' Affairs works with partners across and beyond government to monitor the effectiveness and impact of the commitments outlined in the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan. Since the publication of the Action Plan in 2022, the Government has published four updates on progress; two six monthly reports in August 2022 and August 2023, and two updates within the Armed Forces...
Johnny Mercer: The Office for Veterans’ Affairs’ definition of homelessness is in line with the Government’s definition of homelessness. Statutory homelessness is defined as households or individuals who are owed a homelessness duty by a local authority.
Johnny Mercer: This Government is committed to supporting all veterans with securing appropriate accommodation. In 2023, we launched Op FORTITUDE, the dedicated referral scheme for veterans facing homelessness and rough sleeping, which is part of a broader £8.55 million of funding for specialist help and wrap-around support for veterans in more than 900 supported housing units. This is in addition to...
Johnny Mercer: This Government has conducted extensive research with veterans and charities to improve the offer to the veteran community. As a result of this feedback, we will improve access to guides and information by working with the Ministry of Defence and stakeholders to dramatically improve the information on GOV.UK. This will make content more accessible and easier to understand. We also plan to...
Johnny Mercer: This Government is committed to making sure that all veterans have equal opportunities and can access valuable, sustainable careers, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces. There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer. Over...
Johnny Mercer: Veterans’ employment is at an all-time high, with 89% of those leaving service finding employment within six months. This Government's £700,000 Veterans’ Career Development Fund aims to build on that, increasing the provision and enhancing access to qualifications, training and skills development for veterans and their families across the UK. The grant seeks to support veterans of...
Johnny Mercer: Regular updates on a range of veteran specific initiatives, including Going Forward into Employment, are published as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 6 monthly report and in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report. The latest updates report that over 200 veterans have been employed in the Civil Service through Going Forward into Employment, and over 1,000 Civil...
Johnny Mercer: The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help at-risk people in Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety, including over 21,600, people eligible for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) schemes, as of September 2023. The Government is committed to relocating all eligible persons who...
Johnny Mercer: There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer. Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward...
Johnny Mercer: The Government remains committed to ensuring that our welfare services for veterans are fit for purpose. This is why the response to the Welfare Services Review was published on 11 December 2023, and included commitments on taking forward the intentions of the recommendations. Work is already underway in both the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and Ministry of Defence, and with stakeholders...
Johnny Mercer: This Government is committed to ensuring that all veterans have equity of opportunity and access into valuable, sustainable careers after they leave the Armed Forces. That is why, we recently launched a £700,000 Career Development Fund, which will make funding available for qualifications, training and skills development to veterans and their families across the UK. Whilst this funding aims...
Johnny Mercer: This Government understands that recruiting veterans is one of the most effective business decisions that any employer can make, and is committed to ensuring that all veterans have equity of opportunity and access into sustainable employment, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces. The Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative provides an enhanced opportunity...
Johnny Mercer: The Office for Veterans’ Affairs, alongside partners across and beyond government, continue to monitor the progress of delivery against commitments in the 2022-2024 Strategy Action Plan, and regularly publish updates on progress. The most recent update was provided in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report laid in Parliament in December 2023. Additionally, the Veterans...
Johnny Mercer: Recruiting veterans is one of the most effective business decisions that any employer can make. The Civil Service recognises this, and has in place a range of dedicated recruitment initiatives for veterans in order to make the most of their skills and capabilities, and provide the opportunity of a fulfilling career in public service. The Great Place to Work for Veterans programme is one of a...
Johnny Mercer: This Government is committed to ensuring that our welfare services for veterans are fit for the future. That is why in March last year, my right hon. friend the Minister for Defence People, and Families and I jointly commissioned an Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans, which I was pleased was published in full in July 2023. The Government's response, which was...
Johnny Mercer: There are a range of Civil Service recruitment initiatives for veterans, offering a fulfilling career in public service which makes the most of the skills and capability they have to offer. Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward...
Johnny Mercer: Sustainable, gainful employment is one of the most significant ways to enhance life outcomes for veterans and their families. Over 1,000 veterans to date have secured a job in the Civil Service through the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative and a further 200 veterans have been recruited through the 'Going Forward Into Employment' initiative. Both figures are based on data sent...
Johnny Mercer: The Government recognises the significance of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day this year as an important opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of those who fought during World War Two. Officials from across government are working to support the 80th anniversary celebrations with the appropriate events. The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will...
Johnny Mercer: Through Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, this Government ensured that no veteran was forced to sleep rough over Christmas due to a lack of available provision, supporting over 450 veterans into housing to date. The Office for Veterans’ Affairs uses a number of data sources to monitor the levels of rough sleeping amongst...