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The Veterans’ and Families’ Livelihoods (Support by the Crown) Bill [HL] establishes a legal framework that obligates the Crown to secure support for veterans of the armed forces and their immediate families, aiming to regularize and ensure the provision of welfare assistance following service.

Arguments For

The Bill establishes a statutory framework ensuring the Crown provides support to veterans and their immediate families, codifying existing moral obligations into law for greater certainty.
It seeks to improve lived experiences by addressing inconsistencies in support provision across different government departments and regions.
Providing this support demonstrates a continued commitment to those who have served, potentially aiding in transition to civilian life and reducing hardship among service families.

Arguments Against

Concerns may arise over the financial implications of placing formal obligations on the Crown for long-term provision of varied support services.
Defining the scope of 'immediate family' and setting clear criteria for 'support' could lead to complex boundary disputes and administrative burdens.
Critics might argue that existing charitable networks and departmental responsibilities already provide sufficient mechanisms, making new primary legislation redundant or overly prescriptive.

Explanatory Notes to the Veterans' and Families' Livelihoods (Support by the Crown) Bill [HL]

This Bill makes provision for support to veterans of the armed forces and their immediate families by the Crown. The Bill is an initiative of Baroness Cox.

These are the Explanatory Notes accompanying the Veterans’ and Families’ Livelihoods (Support by the Crown) Bill [HL].

The primary aim of the legislation is to establish a means by which the Crown guarantees support for armed forces veterans and their immediate families.

PART 1

Duty to secure support

1 Duty to secure support

(1) The Crown must secure that support is available to veterans and their immediate families.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), “support” means any provision or service that the Crown, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, may make to assist veterans and their immediate families in relation to—

(a) employment and training; (b) housing and accommodation; (c) physical and mental health and wellbeing; (d) debt and financial management; (e) social inclusion and community integration.

(3) The Crown may discharge the duty under subsection (1) by securing that support is provided by—

(a) a government department or public authority; (b) a person acting on behalf of the Crown or a government department or public authority.

(4) The duty to secure support under this section does not impose on the Crown any new function or liability unless provision is made by or under an Act of Parliament for that purpose.

This section introduces the main requirement of the Bill: the Crown must ensure that assistance is available to veterans and their immediate families.

Support is defined broadly, covering areas like employment, housing, health, financial management, and social integration.

The Crown can meet this obligation by arranging for services through government departments, public bodies, or contracted third parties.

Importantly, this section itself does not create new departmental functions or financial liabilities unless further legislation is enacted specifically to assign those duties.

2 Relationship with existing provision

(1) Nothing in this Part is to be taken to restrict or modify any existing entitlement to support or any existing provision of support under or by virtue of any other enactment or rule of law.

(2) The duty in section 1 is supplementary to any existing entitlement or provision of support to which a veteran or their immediate family may be entitled or have access.

This part clarifies that the new duty imposed by the legislation does not replace or decrease any existing rights or support entitlements veterans already possess under other laws or rules.

The support provided under this Bill is supplemental to all current methods of assistance available to veterans and their families.

3 Guidance

(1) The Secretary of State must issue guidance about the discharge of the duties under section 1.

(2) The Secretary of State must keep the guidance under review and revise it if they consider it necessary to do so.

(3) The Secretary of State must lay a copy of any guidance issued or revised under this section before each House of Parliament.

The Secretary of State is required to produce and issue guidance explaining how the duty to secure support will be carried out.

The Secretary of State must review this guidance regularly and make revisions when necessary.

Any issued or revised guidance must be presented to both Houses of Parliament.

PART 2

Definitions and commencement

4 Definitions

(1) In this Act—

“immediate family” in relation to a veteran means—

(a) a spouse, civil partner or an individual living with the veteran as if they were a spouse or civil partner; (b) a child or grandchild of the veteran, or a person whom the veteran has formally adopted in accordance with relevant adoption legislation; (c) a person who is financially dependent on the veteran at the time the veteran ceases to serve or at the time of the veteran’s death;

“Secretary of State” means a Secretary of State authorised by the Crown to act in relation to the matter in question;

“veteran” means a person who has served in the armed forces of the Crown for a period of not less than one day.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person ceases to serve in the armed forces of the Crown when that person is discharged from service or is released from service in the armed forces of the Crown.

This section defines key terms used throughout the Act.

A 'veteran' is someone who served in the armed forces for at least one day, ceasing service upon discharge or release.

The 'immediate family' includes a spouse, civil partner, cohabiting partner, dependent children or grandchildren, or anyone financially dependent on the veteran at the time service ends or upon the veteran's death.

The 'Secretary of State' is the minister designated by the Crown to handle these matters.

5 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed.

The Act stipulates that it will become fully operational immediately upon receiving Royal Assent (the day it is officially passed into law).

6 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ and Families’ Livelihoods (Support by the Crown) Act 202[X].

This simply provides the official short title by which the resulting legislation will be known.

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