Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Armed Forces Covenant is fully implemented in Northern Ireland.

The Armed Forces Covenant applies throughout the U.K. but delivery is shaped by local and regional factors and jurisdictions. The Government is making good progress in delivering the Covenant in Northern Ireland, where unique circumstances require a different approach to be taken from the rest of the U.K.

For example, last year Danny Kinahan was appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Veterans Commissioner, to act as a voice and advocate for veterans; additional funding has been secured for the Veterans’ Support Office in Northern Ireland to assist in delivery of the Covenant at ground level; and projects in Northern Ireland received over £1.6million last year from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s £10million per year fund for initiatives across the U.K. that support the Armed Forces Community.

The Ministry of Defence’s review into the Ulster Defence Regiment and Royal Irish (Home Service) Aftercare Service (NI ACS) has begun. It is currently considering whether the remit of the Service should be widened to cover all Her Majesty’s Forces veterans living in Northern Ireland with service-related injuries and conditions. The review is due to conclude in March 2022.

Finally, the Government is further incorporating the Armed Forces Covenant into law, in the Armed Forces Bill 2021, and this will apply across the U.K., including in Northern Ireland.