Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Expand Covenant Legal Duty, co-designing with local authorities for effective, deliverable implementation.
Recommendation
The Covenant Legal Duty should be expanded to cover the breadth of areas in which members of the Armed Forces community regularly experience disadvantage. The Government should work closely with local authorities and other bodies who might be required to deliver an expanded Covenant 27 Duty to co-design a Duty that meets the needs of the forces community and that can be delivered in the context of severe constraints on their resources. (Recommendation, Paragraph 31)
Government Response Summary
The MOD acknowledges the recommendation to expand the Covenant Legal Duty, detailing an extensive engagement program, co-developing a new burdens assessment with MHCLG and LGA to address resource constraints, and providing training materials and resources.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The MOD acknowledges the conclusion at Paragraph 30 and the recommendation at Paragraph 31. We are actively seeking opportunities to enhance support for Armed Forces communities in alignment with HMGs manifesto commitment. We value the participation of Local Authorities and other signatories who are tasked with implementing the Covenant principles. Officials were directed to take a “maximalist” approach to policy areas in scope for the Covenant Duty extension. MOD officials undertook an extensive research and engagement programme exercise to identify areas where the Armed Forces community may experience disadvantage. This included hosting roundtable discussions and other workshops with more than 150 organisations. Following extensive consultation and from anecdotal evidence provided through a dedicated Covenant mailbox (where people can raise any concerns and questions), it is likely that there are several areas where disadvantages arising from Service, could be improved through the inclusion in the Duty extension. We anticipate that plans for the duty extension will raise awareness of the Covenant and drive further, positive outcomes for the Armed Forces community. We acknowledge that the expansion of the Covenant Legal Duty will place an additional strain on Government Departments and Local Authorities. constraints are considered. To mitigate any additional burden on Local Authorities, the MOD is co-developing a new burdens assessment, alongside Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Local Government Associations. Again, the MOD will be providing training materials, webinar sessions and downloadable resources to support organisations in their delivery of the Covenant Duty. These will help these bodies comply with their legal obligations.