7. Welsh Conservative Debate: The Armed Forces

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:42 pm on 16 March 2022.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 4:42, 16 March 2022

I certainly do, Jenny, and I was very struck by your contribution to today's debate, and fully endorse your calls on that front. I was also struck by your personal story, your family story, of just how not having the right support in place can be so costly for our veteran community and their loved ones. Thank you for sharing that. I know it must have been difficult for you.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of course, referred to some of his family's experiences too, and this is why we've got to make sure that the armed forces covenant is honoured. It's been pleasing that we've made progress in recent years. I think it's 12 years ago now that Veterans NHS Wales was established. It's great that we've put more fuel into the tank for that organisation to be able to meet the demands that have been placed upon it, and of course we've made other strides as well, with the excellent armed forces liaison officers that people like Laura Anne Jones referenced in Gwent and elsewhere across the country. We've got things like the defence employer recognition scheme, and I must declare an interest in that respect, because I'm a board member of the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association for Wales, which actually runs that scheme. But it is really excellent. We should be encouraging all public sector employers in Wales to be able to adopt the scheme and go for those bronze, silver and gold awards. I hope there's going to be a platinum award at some point in the future.

Can I thank the Minister also for the continued work that she's been doing with the expert group? It's been a pleasure to be able to participate in the expert group, and I think this again shows the way that we're working collaboratively on a cross-party basis for the benefit of our armed forces community and veterans here in Wales. Because that is not normal—it's not normal to invite people from opposition parties into groups like that, but you've continued to allow me to sit on there to bring appropriate challenge in those meetings, and I welcome it very much indeed.

Jack Sargeant made reference to the fact that a former Minister, Alun Davies, had contributed to today's debate. Of course, your own father, Jack, was a very fine Minister for the armed forces during his tenure. He was a great champion of people in the armed forces, and indeed our veterans community, so I want to pay tribute to him. And we must not forget either that there are many third sector organisations doing incredible work to support our armed forces, not just the Royal British Legion and SSAFA, but other smaller organisations like Woody's Lodge, Change Step in my own constituency, and indeed we've got a growing number of veterans' sheds around Wales, something that started, actually—. That movement started in my own constituency in Clwyd West. So, these are things that we've got to be very proud of, but there's always going to be more work to do. We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, Minister, and the Welsh Government to make sure that we deliver for our armed forces here in Wales, and on that basis I'm delighted that you're supporting our motion. We will all work, I'm sure, closely with the new commissioner to make sure that our veterans in Wales get a better deal.