Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on progress made by the Office for National Statistics in reviewing its decision not to record veteran service personnel in the 2021 census since his letter of 12 July 2016.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Ministry of Defence have established a working group to review the decision not to record veteran Service personnel in the 2021 census. To date it has met five times. The working group is developing a number of themes which has allowed us to develop a good understanding of each other's needs.

The ONS will be inviting key stakeholders from across Government, Local Authorities and the charitable sector to a meeting this autumn to further seek their input. In addition both organisations met with the Royal British Legion in July this year to explain the work that both departments are taking forward