The Minister's letter of 15 November 2021 to Johnny Lighten MBE, the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees' (VAPC) "Chair of Chairs", stated:
Thank you for inviting me to your conference [of VAPC Chairs] on 26 October [2021]. I found it most interesting and I left feeling really enthused and with a greater awareness of the role that the VAPCs play in supporting veterans.
I know that there has been much activity over the last 12 months surrounding the introduction of the new TORs and am pleased that I have been able to play my part in agreeing these. I look forward to working closer with you as the National Chair over the next 12 months and I see your role as key in enabling the VAPCs to move forward together in supporting our Veterans.
I believe that these TORs will enable the VAPCs to deliver a structured contribution to better understanding the support the whole of the veteran's 'family' are receiving in your regions. I hope you now feel that you now have a real opportunity to assist in shaping and informing the strategy for our veterans and to provide a regional picture of successful delivery of the soon to be announced Veteran Strategy Action Plan.
I look forward to reading your first report in May 2022 and again in November 2022 after which, further discussion can take place regarding potentially formalising your broader role in Statute. I am pleased to say that I have now signed your new TORs and a copy of these are enclosed.
These Terms of Reference (TORs) reflect the fact that the VAPCs, given their independent and regional set-up, aim to make a useful contribution to the Government's drive to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.
The TORs have 2 principal purposes:
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To set out the activities that members of VAPCs, as individuals and as members of informal regional groups, are asked to carry out relating to all veterans and their families.
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To provide direction relating to their performance for an initial period of 12 months beginning from the date these TORs are agreed.
