Veterans Strategy Action Plan

Answer from Johnny Mercer

A quarter of the more than 60 cross-Government commitments have been delivered to date, with recent achievements including rolling out the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme, the completion of the scoping study into digital verification, and the appointment of the first Veterans Commissioner for Wales. I will publish a formal update on progress in the autumn.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We have now established Op Courage, the UK's first single care pathway through NHS mental health services for those who need them. It had 19,000 referrals in its first year last year. I encourage people to engage with the service to talk about their mental health and not suffer in silence.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The digital verification service is an extremely important part of being able to identify the veterans cohort. We are making significant progress. Alpha testing is going on now and we are looking to do beta testing next year. I am hopeful we will have something online by April next year.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Government have committed to a £44 million spend to turn it into a digital service, which will undoubtedly increase and improve its output. I share my hon. Friend's concern, certainly about the data on how many appeals have been overturned. I understand the processes for it, but my very clear view is that the service is not good enough for our veterans at the moment.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The data shows that someone is statistically less likely to take their life if they have served, but every suicide is a tragedy. There is more help available now than there ever has been. The system is working, with 19,000 referrals through Op Courage last year.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

This is the first Government to have brought in—through the Armed Forces Act 2021—a statutory requirement on health, housing and education. I am clear that that is a floor, not a ceiling. We are looking to expand what that legislation can do at some point.

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The beauty of Op Courage is that it does precisely that: it brings order to the various charities and enables them to bid in to run contracts, so that they can run the complex treatment service, the high intensity service and the transition liaison service. It gets them on a sustainable footing.