Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Strategic Defence Review on employment opportunities for veterans in the Vale of Glamorgan; whether his Department has conducted an evaluation of the adequacy of support available to veterans in the constituency in securing fulfilling careers after leaving the Armed Forces; and what steps his Department is taking to improve access to training, reskilling, and career transition programmes for veterans in the Vale of Glamorgan as part of the Government’s broader defence strategy.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) marks a new era for Defence. After years of the UK’s Armed Forces being hollowed out and underfunded, change is essential to ensure the UK remains secure at home and strong abroad, now and for years to come. The SDR process was designed to help the UK be better prepared to fight wars of scale; to be more integrated, more innovative and to help industry be more capable. The Reviewers will soon make their final report and recommendations to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and the Defence Secretary.

Resettlement services are available to all Regular and Full-Time Reserve Service Personnel leaving the Armed Forces, with employment support and training provided through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The CTP, a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Reed in Partnership, offers comprehensive resettlement support regardless of time served. This partnership has evolved over 25 years to support thus far 310,000 personnel.

CTP assists Service leavers in transitioning to civilian life through various services, including skills development workshops, seminars, resettlement training advice, vocational training courses, career consultancy, one-to-one guidance, and job finding support.

In Wales, the MOD and CTP work closely with the Devolved Government. A dedicated CTP Employer Relationship Manager in Cardiff promotes the Service leaver talent pool to Welsh employers, creating meaningful employment opportunities. CTP also conducts Career Transition Workshops in Chepstow, Brecon (as needed), and at the Employment Fair in Cardiff, with the next event scheduled for 5 November 2025. MOD resettlement policy and CTP services are continually evaluated to ensure they meet the needs of Service leavers, with improvements made as necessary.

The Government is expanding UK-wide career support for the Armed Forces community, ensuring support for all veterans, regardless of when they left service. The careers advice service Op ASCEND offer will include a broader range of job support for veterans, helping more into employment and boosting growth under this Government’s Plan for Change. This service will work with industry bodies to make sure businesses are set up to make the most of the talents veterans have to offer, demonstrating how the Government is renewing the contract with those who serve and have served.