Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2005 to Questions 50084 on Defence: Space Technology, what role Northern Ireland will play in the delivery of a refreshed Defence Space Strategy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As the Strategic Defence Review highlights, Space is critical for the UK’s national infrastructure and central to future defence operations. In line with the Government’s wider industrial strategy, Defence is collaborating closely with partners across Government, industry, academia, and civil society to build a strong and resilient UK space sector.
Northern Ireland contributes significantly to the UK’s space technology sector through its advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity capabilities. These strengths contribute to the UK’s capacity for space innovation, security, and industrial excellence.
The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will highlight capabilities deemed critical to national security, supply chain resilience, and economic growth for the UK more broadly. Space has been identified as an important area of strategic interest to Defence.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to expand (a) Army, (b) Navy, and (c) Air Cadet programmes in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Given the fantastic benefits which can be gained from the Cadet experience this Government is committed to getting more young people to become Cadets. The Strategic Defence Review has recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030.
Expanding the Cadet Forces, which provide skills and qualifications to young people from diverse backgrounds across the country, and support economic growth, will benefit all four nations of the UK including Northern Ireland. Planning for this expansion is currently underway, and more detail will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the UK’s capability to respond to (a) hybrid and (b) cyber threats.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence works closely with Government partners to monitor, understand and respond to cyber and hybrid threats to the UK from hostile states.
The Strategic Defence Review 2025 underscores the UK's commitment to responding to cyber and hybrid threats, establishing the Cyber and Electromagnetic Command to ensure a coherent and consistent approach to force development, force generation and operations in the domain. We are enhancing integration across Defence and wider Government, as well as with allies, partners, and industry to respond to these threats effectively.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential role of the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland in (a) shaping and (b) delivering the VALOUR programme to take account of (i) regional needs and (ii) existing collaborative practice.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
VALOUR is a new programme to establish the first ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A network of new regional field officers will work with local organisations to coordinate local delivery and ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities. In Northern Ireland, we will build on the effective collaborative between the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner’s Office. This will include enhancing partnerships with the wider veteran support system, including the Thrive Together programme led by Brooke House. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with a range of relevant partners, including these local partners, with further details to be announced in due course.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the VALOUR programme (a) works with and (b) complements existing veterans’ organisations in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
VALOUR is a new programme to establish the first ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A network of new regional field officers will work with local organisations to coordinate local delivery and ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities. In Northern Ireland, we will build on the effective collaborative between the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner’s Office. This will include enhancing partnerships with the wider veteran support system, including the Thrive Together programme led by Brooke House. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with a range of relevant partners, including these local partners, with further details to be announced in due course.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out how the proposed introduction of regional field officers under the VALOUR programme will strengthen existing (a) statutory and (b) voluntary support networks for veterans in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
VALOUR is a new programme to establish the first ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A network of new regional field officers will work with local organisations to coordinate local delivery and ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities. In Northern Ireland, we will build on the effective collaborative between the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner’s Office. This will include enhancing partnerships with the wider veteran support system, including the Thrive Together programme led by Brooke House. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with a range of relevant partners, including these local partners, with further details to be announced in due course.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of consulting (a) veterans (i) generally and (ii) on their lived experiences and (b) veterans’ organisations in Northern Ireland in the (A) design and (B) delivery of the VALOUR (1) policy framework and (2) programme.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government understands the importance of consulting widely with veterans and veteran organisations to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs and experiences are understood. Officials are working with key statutory and voluntary sector stakeholders in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom to develop VALOUR. We have launched a VALOUR guidance page on GOV.UK website where individuals and organisations can register for updates and veterans can sign up to take part in research and focus groups.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the effective implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland; and whether he plans to take steps to improve access to veteran support services in the UK.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Government has committed to extending the Covenant Legal Duty to cover UK Government Departments and the Devolved Governments, including Northern Ireland. We anticipate that the Duty extension will increase awareness of the Covenant, drive further improvements for the Armed Forces community, and help mitigate and tackle disadvantage.
The Government has announced VALOUR, a new programme to establish the first ever UK-wide approach to veteran support services. A network of new regional field officers will work with local organisations to coordinate local delivery and ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with these local partners and others, with further details to be announced in due course.
In Northern Ireland, veterans can access holistic support from the Veterans' Welfare Service Northern Ireland which provides a range of information and practical support to both veterans and their families. This includes access to timely physiotherapy and psychological therapies to eligible veterans. Veterans in Northern Ireland who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can also access the UK Government's single housing support pathway, Op FORTITUDE.
Funding has also been made available via the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to support the health and wellbeing of veterans in Northern Ireland, including via the Thrive Together programme and Defence Medical Welfare Service pilot.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support the mental health of veterans in Northern Ireland; and what support his Department is providing to affected veterans.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 28 May 2025 to Question 53212.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the mental health needs of veterans in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
This Government is committed to ensuring that veterans can access the appropriate support wherever they live in the UK. We recently announced VALOUR, a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support to ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans. This regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR support centres providing multiple services in one place, together with regional field officers coordinating the provision of local services, will ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of local communities.
Specialist statutory support for veterans who reside in Northern Ireland is delivered by the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland (VWS NI) to ensure effective and enduring support is available. In April, the VWS NI renewed and expanded its unique medical contracts, providing psychological therapies and physiotherapy to eligible veterans, namely those with conditions attributable to their service.
Veterans who are resident in Northern Ireland can also access a range of UK-wide support, while Government funding via the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust supports the Thrive Together Programme, which operates across the UK.