Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure better provision of mental health support for veterans.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am leading work across Government and with Civil Society to look at the best ways to ensure veterans and their families get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.

NHS England offers Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, which provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families. More information and contact details on Op COURAGE can be found here:

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists.

As health is devolved, I am also looking forward to working with counterparts in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments on this important issue.