Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the APPG for Veteran's Survey Findings relating to respondents' awareness of activities undertaken by the Veterans Advisory and Pension Committee (VAPCS), what steps he plans to take to enhance awareness among (a) veterans and (b) military personnel of the role of in providing support to veterans.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) acknowledges the results of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Veterans’ survey.

The MOD has already taken steps towards raising awareness of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees by delivering on its commitment to capture the breadth of their activities through a Private Member’s Bill that has now been passed into law. The passage of this Act has raised broader awareness of the role of the Committees and the support they provide to our Armed Forces community at a regional level.

The issue of how the Committees communicate within their regions and with relevant stakeholders, forms part of both their public bodies independent review and the UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans, which were published in July 2023. The MOD and Office for Veterans' Affairs, along with other stakeholders, will now consider these reports and will develop an action plan to address findings and recommendations, with a focus on implementing meaningful change that will enhance service effectiveness and delivery. The Government’s response to these reports will be published later in the year.