Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take ensure that independent oversight is provided for the activities of the VALOUR Team; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that oversight on tackling regional variations in support for veterans.

The structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR are currently being developed and will also be informed by lessons learned during the Northern pilot announced last week.

It will not be a service that is a blueprint for everyone, but we will take the geographical differences into account and ensure that it is fit for purpose so that our veterans are given the deal that they deserve. This will be an institutionally resilient system that will reform the system at the local, the regional, and the national level, ensuring that support is available across the country, and that it is tailored to the needs of veterans in the communities where they live.

As a Minister, I am accountable to Parliament for relevant veterans' issues including those led by the Ministry of Defence such as the delivery of VALOUR.