Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will meet with representatives from Beyond the Wire and members of the bereaved Armed Forces community to discuss the adequacy of support for the armed forces bereaved.

Defence officials will be meeting with the CEO of Beyond the Wire on 17 December. Additionally, they have been invited to join the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG), which I believe to be the best mechanism to engage with all the stakeholders that have an interest in supporting the bereaved. There are no current plans for the Secretary of State to meet with the group.

Defence recognises the extraordinary commitment and sacrifices that Service families make to our country and, in particular, of those who are bereaved. We take a holistic multi-agency approach to supporting the bereaved community with UK wide support in place through the single Services, Veterans Services and the DBFG. The DBFG itself was formed to ensure two-way communication on matters of bereavement between Defence and the bereaved cohort, facilitating the opportunity to shape policy to ensure those who suffer such loss are treated fairly and with due consideration. It's membership includes chairs of the Widows’ Associations, representatives from Government, bereaved support services, and military charities.