Armed Forces Commissioner Bill

Carla Lockhart Excerpts

Report stage
Tuesday 21st January 2025 Commons Chamber

Finally, on our new clause 2, we had a considerable debate in Committee about the relationship between the Armed Forces Commissioner and the various veterans commissioners, a point touched on by our friends from Northern Ireland, and I place on record my admiration for the previous Northern Ireland veterans commissioner, Mr Danny Kinahan, an ex-serviceman who was widely respected across the sectarian and political divide in Northern Ireland. It is a great shame that he resigned.

[Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) (DUP)]

Northern Ireland has possibly more veterans per head of population than any other constituent part of the United Kingdom. Thousands served in the Ulster Defence Regiment and the Royal Irish Regiment alongside the British Army regiments during their tours in Northern Ireland. Will the right hon. Gentleman join me in commending the new veterans commissioner, Mr David Johnstone, who has also served with distinction, and does he agree with the call of the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) today that this should be a fully funded and full-time post in Northern Ireland, given the needs of veterans in Northern Ireland?

[Mr Francois]

I wish the new veterans commissioner in Northern Ireland all the best, but suffice it to say that he has a hard act to follow.

In conclusion, we hope that we have been a critical friend to the Bill. We have pressed the Government on death-in-service benefits, and on the continuity of education allowance and its implications for retention, and if we do not receive what I yet hope may be satisfactory answers from the Minister, we might be minded to press the amendments on those issues to a Division.