Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Support for Veterans

Monday 19 May 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • Government announced the Operation Valour programme to improve access to essential care and support for veterans.
  • The Government are expanding UK-wide employment support for the armed forces community through Op Ascend.
  • National insurance relief for employing veterans is aimed at encouraging conversations within employers and providing financial incentives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sadik Al-Hassan Lab North Somerset
NHS Veterans
Context

The charity PTSD Resolution, which provides vital healthcare services to imprisoned veterans, had its rights removed in England. This raises concerns about the support available to veteran prisoners.

Question

What steps is he taking to improve support for veterans? The charity PTSD Resolution—which provided vital healthcare services in our stretched NHS—to deliver services that imprisoned veterans desperately need have been taken away in England. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how the MOD and other signatories to the armed forces covenant can support the case of veteran prisoners, and to explain why precious support from a charity has been taken away?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)

Earlier this month the nation celebrated 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, and the Government announced the Operation Valour programme, a new UK-wide veteran support system to ensure that veterans have improved access to essential care and support. It is backed by a new £50 million investment, starting this year. The Minister for Veterans and People is working across Government to ensure that veterans receive the support they need from all services, including Op Nova, which provides for ex-forces people who become caught up in the criminal justice system. I know that I can speak for my hon. Friend the Minister while he is on Everest in saying that he would welcome a meeting with my hon. Friend, and I will ensure that it takes place.

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Q2 Damian Hinds Con East Hampshire
Employment Veterans
Context

Veterans face challenges in transitioning from military service to civilian employment. The national insurance relief program helps employers hire veterans by reducing the cost of employing them.

Question

What steps is he taking to help support veterans into employment? National insurance relief for employing veterans comes at really quite a low cost to the Treasury, but it is effective, not just in its financial incentive but because it opens up conversations within employers. In written answers of late, the Government have been slightly equivocal about the future of the programme. Can the Minister confirm that this programme of relief will continue to support veterans’ employment beyond the next year?

Answer from The Minister for the Armed Forces (Luke Pollard)

The Government are expanding UK-wide employment support for the armed forces community through Op Ascend, a free advice service for veterans and their families launched earlier this year. We also continue to offer tailored employment support via the career transition partnership. The national insurance relief has been extended for a further year.

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