Oral Answers to Questions

Jess Brown-Fuller Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Liz Jarvis (Eastleigh) (LD)]

7. What steps he is taking to ensure that veterans receive adequate support after leaving the armed forces.

[Jess Brown-Fuller (Chichester) (LD)]

13. What steps he is taking to ensure that veterans receive adequate support after leaving the armed forces.

[The Minister for Veterans and People (Louise Sandher-Jones)]

A new transformational veterans strategy, the first in seven years, recognises veterans as a national asset. It commits £50 million of Valour funding to make it easier for veterans to access the care and support they deserve, and £12 million for the reducing veterans homelessness programmes. Ops Fortitude, Courage, Restore, Ascend and Nova will continue their fantastic work as well. We will continue to deliver on what matters most for veterans.

[Louise Sandher-Jones]

The hon. Member makes a valid point, and I will look into it to see what I can do.

[Jess Brown-Fuller]

My constituent Liz was thrown out of the military for being gay and has since received redress for this injustice via the LGBT financial recognition scheme. Liz told me that she has never attended any veteran support group because her discharge from the military left her feeling unworthy of the title of veteran. What steps is the Department taking to encourage those veterans to engage with support schemes like the brilliant female veterans scheme running at Tuppenny Barn in Southbourne in my constituency to rebuild trust after the grave injustice that they experienced?

[Louise Sandher-Jones]

I thank the hon. Member for raising the important point that those who were treated disgracefully by the former policy under the military may be struggling with being able to get back in touch. I can assure her that the armed forces family would welcome her constituent back with open arms. If the hon. Member is happy to pass details on to me, we can provide several ways of doing that—for example, via the regimental association, which I am sure will be only too happy to meet her constituent.