Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support veterans in Northern Ireland (a) to access UK-wide veterans' services and (b) in other ways.

This Government is committed to ensuring that veterans are able to access the appropriate support they require wherever they live in the UK. In Northern Ireland, the Office for Veterans Affairs, within the Ministry of Defence has established a local presence to support strategic coordination of organisations, programmes and initiatives for veterans wellbeing. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recently announced the appointment of David Johnstone as the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner.

Specialist statutory support for veterans resident in Northern Ireland is delivered by the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland (VWS NI) and a £500,000 Defence Medical Welfare Service pilot supports veterans’ health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland by linking veterans with local services to ensure they are receiving the help available.

Veterans resident in Northern Ireland can also access a range of UK-wide support, including the Career Transition Partnership. The Reducing Veterans Homelessness (RVH) Programme includes the referral pathway OP FORTITUDE supporting veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust supports the Thrive Together Programme, which operates across the UK. In Northern Ireland, this is led by the charity Brooke House.