Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what engagement he has had with local authorities on the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant.

In developing policy areas for the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty Extension, Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials conducted an extensive programme of research and engagement. This included hosting roundtable discussions and workshops with more than 150 organisations, including a wide range of local authorities.

This engagement is ongoing as the Extension to the Legal Duty progresses, with MOD officials maintaining regular engagement with key stakeholders, including Local Government Associations across the Devolved Administrations. I would encourage local authorities to continue participating with this engagement as we move to implementation.

In addition, as well as organising an annual Conference, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders including local government representatives and Armed Forces Champions from across the nation to share best practices in delivering the Covenant, the MOD also co-chairs the Covenant Community Action Group (CCAG) which serves as a platform for local authority champions to exchange knowledge and showcase their initiatives. The CCAG meets quarterly and includes membership from local authorities across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.