Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Veterans' Places, Pathways and People portfolio grants stage 2 at achieving its objectives.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is responsible for administering the HM Treasury funded Veterans' Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. The Veterans' Places, Pathways and People (VPPP) programme is funded through the Veterans' Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.

The Fund awarded £9 million to 14 major projects through the VPPP programme. This programme supported projects to encourage the development of safe, welcoming places for veterans to go in their local area, support for the people (staff and volunteers in organisations that support veterans) to be able to have access to good quality training, and to connect veterans into wider pathways, including for mental health support and treatment.

The VPPP strategic leads are delivering significant projects. These grants are due to conclude in March 2024; and will complete formal end of grant monitoring processes. All the grants are currently being monitored against agreed delivery plans. Additionally, the Trust is undertaking an evaluation into the VPPP programme as a whole.