HC Deb 10 July 1979 vol 970 cc123-4W
19. Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with arrangements to assist personnel who leave the Services with their housing and other social problems of settlement.

Mr. Hayhoe

Resettlement assistance for members of the Armed Forces covers a wide range of activities and agencies. In general, we aim to give advice on all aspects of resettlement before a man leaves the Service and to help him find appropriate civilian employment. In addition, the Services have assisted house purchase schemes which provide advances of pay near the end of a man's service and local authorities are already recommended by a Department of Environment circular to consider sympathetically applications to rent council houses. Resettlement procedures are under continuous scrutiny to improve the assistance given. In recent years, second career training has increased and the links between the various agencies involved have been improved.