Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in the Urgent Question on 5 January 2026, how many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have met with the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner since 5 July 2024.

Since January 2025, when the current Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner took up post, I have formally met, either face to face or virtually, with the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner on 11 separate occasions including a two day visit to Northern Ireland during March 2025.

My fellow Ministerial colleagues have formally met with the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, either face to face or virtually, on two separate occasions.

These figures do not include informal occasions such as where I, or my Ministerial colleagues have attended the same meetings or events.