1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the support available for veterans in Caerphilly? OAQ(5)0164(CC)

Our programme for government, ‘Taking Wales Forward’, makes clear our commitment to supporting armed forces veterans in Wales, which includes those living in Caerphilly.

I know, Cabinet Secretary, first-hand, from my constituency casework, that the issues faced by veterans range from housing, homelessness to healthcare. Research carried out by Swansea University and the Forces in Mind Trust has suggested that veterans may be more at risk than non-veterans of developing gambling problems and this vulnerability may be related to experience of prior traumatic events. Gambling is a complex addiction and has many contributing factors and perhaps it should be treated in the same way as alcohol and drug addiction. As the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for policy in relation to the armed forces and veterans in Wales, will you work with your colleague the Minister for Social Services and Public Health to look at the health and wider impact of problem gambling among veterans, so that their particular needs can be addressed and they’re able to access any appropriate help that may be available?

I think the Member raises a very important point there. I was pleased last week to be at the launch of the Veterans’ Gateway service, a one-stop shop for veterans and family members to access services and support in place. Of course, there are lots of agencies that veterans can be signposted to. We have a cross-cutting theme across Government in terms of supporting veterans, and I’m pleased that I also chair an advisory group that veterans sit on, in terms of making sure that they give me proper advice, proper quality advice, in terms of their needs, and I will ask them to consider that in the near future.

Cabinet Secretary, last week the Conservative Government in Westminster announced that a new 24-hour helpline for armed forces services veterans from across the United Kingdom returning to civil life would be based in Nantgarw. This helpline will provide a one-stop shop offering guidance on housing, employment, finance and mental and physical health, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Will the Cabinet Secretary join me in welcoming this announcement, which will greatly improve the support available for veterans in Caerphilly, Wales, and the United Kingdom as a whole? Thank you.

I’m glad the Member raised that very issue today. I was at the launch of the Nantgarw event only last week, and it was well attended, and, of course, I know your colleague Darren Millar does an awful lot with the armed forces, too, in the cross-party group. I would say this very important 24-hour helpline is an important one, and I was very pleased to show my support when the launch was taken forward last week.