Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Armed Forces Covenant is being fully implemented in Northern Ireland; whether veterans and former service personnel living in Northern Ireland receive the same rights, protections and entitlements as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to social housing, homelessness assistance, healthcare, education and welfare support; and what steps he is taking to ensure that veterans in Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged in accessing the support and services available to veterans elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

The Armed Forces Covenant applies across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, while responsibility for many relevant services is devolved. Provision may be delivered differently across the UK, but the Government’s objective is that the Armed Forces community, which includes veterans, should not face disadvantage because of their service.

To strengthen these protections, the Government is extending the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty through the Armed Forces Bill 2026, requiring the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) and relevant public bodies to have due regard to Covenant principles across areas including housing, health, education, training and social security. The MOD will continue to work closely with the NIE on implementation.

This Government is committed to ensuring veterans can access the support they need wherever they live in the UK. In Northern Ireland, the MOD’s Office for Veterans’ Affairs has established a local presence to strategically coordinate support for veterans’ wellbeing. This will soon be strengthened by the new VALOUR programme’s Field Officers who will work with local organisations to improve access to services and deliver support that meets local needs.

Local veterans and their families can access support through the Veterans' Welfare Service Northern Ireland, including physiotherapy and psychological therapies. Those facing homelessness can also access the UK-wide Op FORTITUDE housing pathway. In addition, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust funds health and wellbeing programmes, including Thrive Together and the Defence Medical Welfare Service pilot.

Northern Ireland’s first Veterans Commissioner was appointed in 2020 to champion veterans' interests. Appointed in January 2025 as the second Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner, David Johnstone promotes awareness of issues affecting local veterans, including health, housing, employment and legacy matters.