HL Deb 18 October 2001 vol 627 c104WA
The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made by the Service Families Task Force since July 2000 [HL715]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

The Service Families Task Force is involved in a wide range of issues. Since July 2000 progress on the main issues has been as follows:

  1. a. We have resolved the problems that some service families had encountered, as a result of the payment of local overseas allowance, in claiming working families' tax credit on return to the UK from an overseas posting.
  2. b. We have resolved the problems that some service spouses had encountered, due to the interpretation of residency status, in claiming Child Support Agency payments when on an overseas posting.
  3. c. Individual learning accounts can now be opened by service spouses when on an overseas posting.
  4. d. Since 1 April 2001 service spouses have been able to open individual savings accounts and stakeholder pensions whilst on an overseas posting.
  5. e. The Ministry of Defence is being consulted by the Department of Health in the drafting of new adoption legislation to ensure that service families will not be disadvantaged.
  6. f. Discussions have been taking place with the Department for Education and Skills, and with local education authorities, to see what measures can be taken to improve the schools admissions process for service families.
  7. g. Discussions have been taking place with the NHS waiting and booking team on the problems service families face when transferring between NHS trust areas.