Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Armed Forces Day

Monday 1 June 2026 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Armed Forces Day will see 480,000 funding for 130 community events, up from 85 last year.
  • The national event on 27 June will take place in Aldershot and Farnborough, celebrating the armed forces.
  • The Valour programme aims to improve access to care and support for veterans and facilitate better hearing of their voices.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Defence Veterans
Context

The speaker is concerned about the importance of Armed Forces Day in recognizing and supporting veterans. Previous events faced criticism for lack of political engagement with veterans.

Question

What plans his Department has to mark Armed Forces Day this year, especially considering previous criticisms that politicians have not been listening to veterans' concerns?

Answer from Louise Jones

This year we have provided £480,000 to part-fund 130 Armed Forces Day community events, up from 85 last year. The national event, on 27 June, will be in Aldershot and Farnborough, celebrating and thanking our armed forces, who are doing a brilliant job keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for specific plans to address previous criticisms about not listening to veterans' concerns, which was not directly addressed.

How: Changed Subject To General Celebration Without Addressing The Need For Engagement With Veteran Voices.

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Q2 Paul Waugh Labour (Co-op) Rochdale
Defence Veterans
Context

The speaker is planning a significant event in Rochdale on Armed Forces Day and wants to acknowledge the work of local veterans' support organizations.

Question

To celebrate Armed Forces Day this year in Rochdale, there will be not only the usual flag-raising ceremony at Rochdale town hall, but on Saturday 27 June we will have a free community picnic in Denehurst Park. Will the Minister join me in thanking Adam Trennery of Get Together After Serving for putting on this marvellous event and all the work he does to support our service people and veterans?

Answer from Louise Jones

This Government are proud to support veterans in Rochdale. I am so pleased that we have been able to provide funding for what sounds like a fantastic Armed Forces Day event. I give a huge thank you to Adam Trennery and GTAS for the amazing work they do to support our service people, veterans and communities for the contribution they make to our society.

Answered
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Q3 Euan Stainbank Lab Falkirk
Veterans
Context

The speaker met with Veterans Together Forth Valley who expressed frustration about the lack of political engagement in addressing their concerns.

Question

This year's Armed Forces Day is as important as ever, and I look forward to attending Falkirk's event on 4 July in Callander Park. It is important that Falkirk's veterans are heard there and every day. What will Ministers do to support veterans' voices being heard before, during and after Armed Forces Day?

Answer from Louise Jones

The new Valour programme will make it easier for veterans to access the care and support they deserve. Crucially, it will also improve how their voices are heard. We opened the first 14 Valour centres in March this year, and round 2 is open for applications for further centres.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about specific measures to support veterans' voices being heard before, during, and after Armed Forces Day, but the answer only discussed a programme that may or may not have this effect.

How: Changed Subject To General Veteran Support Programmes.

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Q4 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Defence Veterans
Context

The speaker references testimony from four professors of law suggesting a need to revisit the protection of veterans from being hauled before the courts.

Question

Would one way of reconnecting society with the armed forces at Armed Forces Day not be to revisit the testimony given to the then Defence Committee in March 2017 by four eminent professors of law? It showed how it is possible to protect veterans from being hauled before the courts for using lethal force against terrorists. Will the Government re-examine this and reinstate the immunity?

Answer from Louise Jones

The right hon. Gentleman is well aware of how strongly I believe it is important that those who have been victims have a right to have investigations, including into the murders of British service personnel.

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a review and reinstatement of legal protections, but the answer changed subject to broader issues of investigation rights for victims.

How: Changed Topic To Victim'S Right To Investigations.

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Q5 Josh Babarinde Lib Dem Eastbourne
Benefits & Welfare Veterans
Context

The speaker raises the case of Staff Sergeant Pauline Cole who faced issues with her pension credit due to military compensation.

Question

This Armed Forces Day will mark the first that Eastbourne commemorates without Staff Sergeant Pauline Cole, a local veteran who died last year. Will the Minister review the arrangement where Pauline's pension credit was cut because her military compensation was considered as income?

Answer from Louise Jones

I thank the hon. Member for raising that important issue, and I am very sorry to hear about Pauline. As I am sure he knows, the interplay between benefits that are available to the general public and military benefits can be complex, but I should add that there are mechanisms to ensure that no veteran is left out in that interplay.

Not addressed: The questioner requested a specific review of Pauline's case, but the response provided generic assurances without committing to action or review.

How: Provided General Assurance Instead Of Specific Commitment.

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