22 Feb 19. Defence Committee. World-class specialist mental health centre essential for Service personnel and Veterans, says Defence Committee. A “world-class centre for the treatment of mental injuries” suffered by Service personnel should be established in the next 12-18 months, says a new Report by the House of Commons Defence Committee, if veterans and their families are to receive the provision and support promised in the Armed Forces Covenant.
Whilst the Committee previously found that the vast majority of veterans leave the Services with no ill-effects, the minority who do suffer from mental health conditions need timely and appropriate care. The Ministry of Defence and the four UK health departments have made improvements, over the past decade, including the introduction of some veteran-specific services.
Yet, for some serving personnel and many veterans, the current system still falls far short of what they need and deserve.
(1) Serving personnel
For those in uniform, stigma around mental health and the fear of career damage remain key disincentives to seeking help. And, when help is sought, there is an entirely unacceptable variation in the quality of care offered to serving personnel based in different locations in the UK.
Specifically, the Care Quality Commission rated two of the four MOD mental health care centres it inspected either as requiring improvement or as inadequate. Shortfalls of 50% in some military mental health staff posts have exacerbated the problems. The Committee therefore urges the MOD to demonstrate that seeking help for mental health problems is not career-limiting, and to improve the consistency of care received when Service personnel decide to come forward.
(2) Veterans
The Committee also found that less than £10 million a year—a shamefully small fraction (0.007%) of the £150 billion UK health budget—is being spent on government-funded veteran-specific mental health services across the UK. As a result, veterans face wide variations in the quality of treatment available, according to where they live and whether they are fortunate enough to have a GP with awareness of veterans’ mental health needs and services. Veterans in Northern Ireland, especially, lack specific mental health services.
Demand for veteran-specific services is swamping available capacity, leading to missed waiting-time targets. Some veterans are having to wait up to a year for treatment, after initial diagnosis.
The Committee is convinced of the need for a highly specialised place of safety to which veterans can be sent as soon as they are diagnosed, in order to be stabilised and to begin receiving assistance.
Such a centre should preferably be co-located with the new state-run Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) for physically injured serving personnel at Stanford Hall.
The NHS should urgently consult with the Ministry of Defence and the DNRC in order to establish this facility, with an initial operating capability, within the next 12-18 months.
(3) Armed Forces families
The Committee is greatly concerned by the UK’s lack of Armed Forces’ family-specific specialist mental health care—even when the very limited contribution of the Armed Forces charity sector is included. The mental health of families can also be damaged by exposure to the stresses of Service life; yet, many family members may hesitate to seek help. MPs urge the MOD, in cooperation with the four UK health departments, to review what help can be given to the families of serving personnel and of veterans with mental health issues.
Defence Committee member and Chair of the APPG for the Armed Forces Covenant, Ruth Smeeth MP, says:
“We acknowledge the work that the MOD and the UK health departments are doing to improve the mental health care provided to both serving personnel and veterans; but it is simply nowhere near enough. Fundamental issues still clearly exist, with scandalously little funding allocated to veteran-specific services, and it is unacceptable that veterans and their families should feel abandoned by the state as a result. It is vital that veterans get the quality of care they need when they need it, no matter where they live, supported by a world-class national centre. Only then will the Armed Forces communities believe that the promises made in the Covenant are not just hollow words.”
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 11 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
HL13628
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK is expected to become a net defence importer in any of the next five years.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 20 February 2019
We are committed to creating the right conditions for a thriving UK defence industry and our refreshed Defence Industrial Policy outlines steps to help UK industry grow and compete, while affirming the UK’s commitment to open competition and free, fair, and responsible trade. This includes by helping industry in its plans to be internationally competitive, innovative and secure. We are currently considering the right hon. Member for Ludlow’s independent report into growing defence’s contribution to UK economic growth. On a rolling 10-year basis, the UK remains the second largest global defence exporter, and in 2017 the UK won defence orders worth £9 billion. Alongside this in 2017-18 the Ministry of Defence’s expenditure with UK industry and commerce was just under £19 billion, which represents an important benefit in terms of domestic partnership to UK industry.
Q
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 12 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Defence: Procurement
HL13686
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the report for the Secretary of State for Defence, Growing the Contribution of Defence to UK Prosperity, published in July 2018, whether UK prosperity is a factor in procurement decisions.
A
Answered by: Earl Howe
Answered on: 20 February 2019
Last March the Defence Secretary invited the right hon. Member for Ludlow (Philip Dunne) to review opportunities for “Growing the Contribution of Defence to UK Prosperity”. We are currently working with UK defence industry to respond to his recommendations.
Following the creation of the national security objective to ‘Promote our Prosperity’ in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review we have refreshed Defence Industrial Policy to help strengthen UK competitiveness, published a National Shipbuilding Strategy and launched the Future Combat Air Strategy. We also engage with global primes to create opportunities for all tiers of the UK supply chain.
Q
Asked by Lyn Brown
(West Ham)
Asked on: 14 February 2019
Department for International Trade
Arms Trade: Human Rights
220843
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many sales were conducted by (a) the UK Government and (b) British registered military companies at the Defence and Security Equipment International 2017 to (i) states and (ii) companies registered within those states that appeared on the list of the UK Government’s Human Rights Priority Countries in 2017.
A
Answered by: Graham Stuart
Answered on: 20 February 2019
The Department does not hold central records of defence and security exports achieved at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) specifically. DSEI is a defence and security exhibition organised by a commercial events company. DIT DSO’s Official Statistics provide estimates of global defence and security exports, achieved throughout each year, based on orders or sales and are published annually on GOV.UK with the most recent being 2017 figures, published in July 2018.
Q
Asked by Mr Ben Bradshaw
(Exeter)
Asked on: 13 February 2019
Treasury
UK Trade with EU
220738
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate the Government has made of the annual amount it is prepared to pay for each level of access to the EU single market.
A
Answered by: Elizabeth Truss
Answered on: 20 February 2019
As set out in the Government’s analysis of the economic and fiscal impact of EU exit (below), the terms of any future financial contributions to the EU related to our future relationship will be a matter for negotiation. However, the Government has been clear on the areas where future spending may be incurred, should the UK and the EU agree. The Political Declaration, published on 25 November, sets out that the UK and EU will “make a fair and appropriate financial contribution” in return for “participation in Union programmes… in areas such as science and innovation, youth, culture and education, overseas development and external action, defencecapabilities, civil protection and space.”
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/760484/28_November_EU_Exit_-_Long-term_economic_analysis__1_.pdf
Q
Asked by Stephen Morgan
(Portsmouth South)
[N]
Asked on: 15 February 2019
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Priyanka Fernando
222038
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the revoking of the arrest warrant for Brigadier Priyanka Fernando.
A
Answered by: Mark Field
Answered on: 20 February 2019
The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with Cabinet colleagues regarding the revoking of the arrest warrant for former Defence Attaché Brigadier Priyanka Fernando.
We were deeply concerned by the incident involving the Sri Lankan Defence Attaché last year and made immediate representations to the Sri Lankan Government. I called Foreign Minister Marapana on 8 February 2018 about the matter to raise his concerns. The Defence Attaché was recalled by his Government soon after.
The FCO, which is not a party to the legal proceedings referred to, was contacted by Westminster Magistrate’s Court seeking clarification of the Brigadier’s diplomatic status in the UK at the time of the incident. The FCO has provided documentation to assist the court.
The UK is committed to upholding the rule of law including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Q
Asked by Melanie Onn
(Great Grimsby)
[N]
Asked on: 15 February 2019
Ministry of Defence
Radar: Wind Power
222041
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that potential interference with air defence radar does not prevent the future development of offshore wind sites.
A
Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood
Answered on: 20 February 2019
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains keen to support the future developments of the offshore wind sector, as best it can. However, this needs to be balanced with its requirements to protect the UK and its airspace. MOD officials have regular liaison with representatives of the offshore wind sector on this matter, particularly through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Aviation Management Board meetings. Where appropriate we will continue to liaise across the industry sector and wider Government, including BEIS and the Department for Transport.
The MOD is undertaking further analysis to consider the strategic objectives and understand any risks with our current and future military radar capabilities. We aim to conclude the first ‘understand’ phase in the spring which will set the scope, structure and timelines for any further phases of work that may be required. However, a way ahead in the immediate future is challenging and requires upgraded or new technologies, which are not currently part of the equipment programme.
Grouped Questions: 222042