Submission to the Defence Select Committee Inquiry – Armed Forces Covenant

 

Doug Beattie MC MLA, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party

 

 

Introduction

 

The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) is a solemn commitment by the nation to ensure that members of the armed forces community—serving personnel, veterans, and their families—are treated with fairness and respect. In Northern Ireland (NI), the Covenant is particularly important due to our unique socio-political history and the enduring legacy of the Troubles. However, despite its significance, the Covenant’s effectiveness in Northern Ireland is severely limited, leaving many in the armed forces community feeling overlooked and unsupported.

 

This submission highlights some of the challenges faced by the armed forces community in Northern Ireland, gaps in the Covenant’s implementation, and practical solutions to ensure parity of support with other UK regions.

 

Despite its potential, the Armed Forces Covenant has had little tangible impact on the lives of most service personnel, veterans, and their families in Northern Ireland. This is primarily due to systemic shortcomings, a lack of region-specific initiatives, and fragmented implementation of UK-wide programmes.

 

Regional disparities in accessing support

 

Initiatives such as Op Fortitude, Op Courage, and Op Restore were designed to address specific challenges faced by the Armed Forces community, including mental health, homelessness, and healthcare. However, in Northern Ireland, access to these services is often limited or not available. Unlike their counterparts in England, Scotland, and Wales, many in the armed forces community in Northern Ireland face exclusion due to inadequate regional adaptation or availability. This results in unmet needs and exacerbates feelings of inequity.

 

Example

 

Op Fortitude, designed to support homeless ex-service personnel, is effectively non-existent in Northern Ireland. From its inception, the initiative lacked the necessary infrastructure to operate in the region. As a result, veterans facing homelessness in Northern Ireland rely heavily on charities to fill the gaps left by government-led programmes.

 

Inadequate housing and social support

 

Housing remains a significant challenge for service leavers and veterans in Northern Ireland. Many veterans feel limited in their area of housing choice due to personal security concerns, which restricts the area they can put down on the housing selection list to live. This limits the housing options available to them, exacerbated by the challenges the Northern Ireland housing system is presently facing.

 

Despite these challenges, there has been little targeted effort under the Armed Forces Covenant to address the unique housing needs of veterans in Northern Ireland. Charities often step in to assist with private rental solutions, but this approach is unsustainable and does not address the root causes of the problem.

 

Healthcare - Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service

 

Veterans in Northern Ireland face barriers in accessing specialised healthcare services, such as the Veterans’ Orthopaedic Service at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital.

 

While veterans in other parts of the UK can access this service through referrals, Northern Ireland veterans are often excluded due to funding restrictions. Referrals require explicit approval from a Consultant Surgeon in Northern Ireland, creating a bureaucratic hurdle that delays or denies access to care. The situation is further complicated by Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, which restricts referral to this service for Northern Ireland veterans, unlike their counterparts in other regions of our United Kingdom.

 

Streamlining referral processes and ensuring equitable access to specialised healthcare services must be a priority if the Covenant’s commitment to healthcare equity is to be fulfilled.

 

Personal Security and Employment Barriers

 

The unique security concerns in Northern Ireland present significant challenges for veterans. Stigma and safety concerns can restrict their ability to integrate into civilian life and access employment opportunities fully. Despite possessing valuable skills and experience, many veterans struggle to utilise them due to stigma and personal safety considerations.

 

One potential solution is automatically mapping military qualifications to civilian equivalents, such as those recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). This would simplify the transition to civilian careers and reduce the barriers caused by stigma and security concerns.

 

Leadership and Accountability

 

Implementing the Armed Forces Act 2021 and the Covenant in Northern Ireland falls under the remit of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. However, the lack of ownership and clear direction has resulted in fragmented and inconsistent delivery.

 

The recent disbandment of the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Office has further compounded these issues, leaving the armed forces community without a central point of contact for accessing services.

 

Proposed Solution: Establish a dedicated Armed Forces Covenant Implementation Team within or alongside the Northern Ireland Executive. This team would provide leadership, coordination, and accountability, ensuring effective implementation of the Covenant while fostering collaboration with local authorities, charities, and other stakeholders.

 

 

 

 

 

Seamless Support Across the United Kingdom

 

The principle of seamless support should underpin service delivery for the Armed Forces community. Regardless of where they live or relocate within the UK, service personnel, veterans, and their families should have access to consistent, high-quality support.

 

However, the current “patchwork quilt” approach undermines this goal. Programmes such as Op Fortitude remain disproportionately focused on England, highlighting the need for equitable resourcing and implementation across all UK regions, including Northern Ireland.

 

Conclusion and Recommendations

 

The Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland is failing to deliver on its promises. Systemic barriers prevent veterans, service personnel, and their families from accessing the same level of support available in other parts of the UK.

 

To address these issues, the following recommendations are proposed:

 

  1. Re-establish Dedicated Support Services

 

Reinstate a dedicated Veterans Support Office in Northern Ireland to provide clear pathways to services and coordination of services.

 

  1. Address Housing Inequalities

 

Develop targeted policies to address the unique housing challenges faced by veterans, including enhanced collaboration with social housing providers.

 

  1. Improve Access to Healthcare

 

Streamline referral processes and remove funding barriers to specialised healthcare services for veterans.

 

  1. Enhance Employment Opportunities

 

Simplify the mapping of military qualifications to civilian equivalents, supporting veterans in securing meaningful employment while addressing personal security concerns.

 

  1. Raise Awareness and Strengthen Accountability

 

Increase awareness of the Covenant among service providers and the armed forces community. Establish a robust monitoring framework to ensure accountability in delivering Covenant commitments.

 

By addressing these challenges, the Government can fulfil its moral obligation to the Armed Forces community in Northern Ireland and ensure they receive the support they deserve.

 

Telephone: 028 9047 4630

Email: uup@uup.org