Minister for Veterans Affairs (): Since publishing the
Strategy for our Veterans in 2018, the Government has made
significant progress towards achieving our goal - to make the UK
the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Through actions committed to in the Veterans’ Strategy Action
Plan: 2022 to 2024 and other measures, this Government has
demonstrated its dedication to this goal. For example, Op
FORTITUDE - a new referral pathway to tackle veteran homelessness
- has been created; an independent review of the experience of
LGBT veterans impacted by the pre-2000 ban on serving has
concluded; and I am proud to say that we have delivered on our
promise to deliver the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card by the end of
2023.
If we want to continue adding meaningful value and ensure
veterans and their families face no disadvantage compared to
their civilian peers, it is vital that we understand more about
them, their aspirations, their challenges and their capabilities,
as well as the economic and social landscape that they face upon
leaving service so that we can be targeted in our support. To do
so, there is a need to continue to improve our evidence base.
I am therefore publishing today a comprehensive consultation on
veterans, allowing the Government to evaluate if the policies and
structures in place support veterans and their families to
succeed in society, the workplace and their personal lives
post-Service.
The consultation will cover a range of policy areas, focussing on
subjects such as employment, housing, finance, public perception
and recognition of veterans.
The consultation seeks evidence UK wide and is open to the
public, including veterans themselves and their families. We
strongly encourage academic experts, charities and other
organisations with an interest in veterans issues to respond to
this consultation. We are also keen to hear from businesses and
employers of veterans. Competent authorities such as local
authorities, NHS trusts, educational institutions (as well as
other providers of services to veterans and their families) are
encouraged to respond.
The outcome of this consultation will inform future policy
supporting veterans and ultimately ensure we can better serve
those who have spent their lives in service to us.
The consultation is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/supporting-our-veterans-a-consultation(opens
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