Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that VALOUR-recognised support centres will be evenly distributed across rural areas.

Applications are currently open for organisations to bid to become VALOUR recognised centres. The locations of centres will be dependent on which organisations apply and are awarded funding; however, consideration will be given to the geographic spread of centres. The programme guidance for applicants encourages them to consider how their bid will deliver more equity of access and consistency in service quality throughout the UK.

VALOUR recognised centres will facilitate in-person access to multiple services for veterans right across the UK. These centres will be required to meet high standards and provide timely data to the UK Government regarding the needs and experiences of veterans to inform future service improvements.