Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to create of an Armed Forces Association for service personnel and veterans.

The Ministry of Defence has no plans to create an Armed Forces Association.

I am satisfied that the interests of members of the Armed Forces as employees are suitably represented by the Chain of Command, SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity, the Royal Naval Association, the Royal Air Force Association, the Veterans Association and a great many more Regimental Associations and groups around the country. Many of these associations also represent the veterans' community. Along with the various Service-facing charities, the above-mentioned associations will all have regular access to the Chain of Command and Ministers to represent their members' interests.