Guidance

VAPC London: meeting minutes 17 December 2025

Updated 24 March 2026

Venue: Barclays Rise, 41 Luke Street, London EC2A 4DP with some members joining using Microsoft Teams

Time: 4pm to 5.30pm

Present 

Robin Herzberg (FRH) – Chairman

Victoria Bell (VB)

John Halliday (JH) (co-opted)

Ally Musthan (AM) (Co-opted)

Larry Stone (LS)

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska (FLW)

Apologies 

Jim Blake (JB)

Caroline Flynn Macleod (CFM)

Annabel Goulding (AG)

Bishnu Gurung (BG)

Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE (CSPH)

Adam Kurzeja (AK)

Charles Perrett (CP)

Alpa Raja (AR)

Alex Woolgar-Toms (AWT)

Welcome 

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, including John Halliday and Ally Musthan who had recently been co-opted.

Apologies for absence 

It was noted that JB, CFM, AG, BG, CSPH, AK, CP, AR and AWT were unable to attend.

Minutes of 17 Septmeber 2025 meeting 

The minutes which had been circulated were approved and were ready to be sent to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for publication.

Action: FRH 

Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

Report to the minister

FRH reminded the committee that at a meeting with the Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, on 22 April 2025, the Minister had invited proposals from the UK Council of VAPC chairs (UKCVC) as to what unique selling points we could offer and how we might be able to fit into the structure for Operation Valour going forward. Stewart Blackburn, Chair of the UKCVC, submitted our response to Al Carns on 17 June 2025.

FRH reminded the committee that a new Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones, had been appointed on 10 September 2025. Stewart Blackburn had written to the new minister shortly after she was appointed to congratulate her on her appointment. He wrote again on 30 September 2025 seeking an early meeting, and on 30 November 2025 in which he proposed dates for a meeting next year. He awaits a reply.

FLW stressed the importance of ensuring that the recommendations in the committee’s latest report had reached the minister and were being acted upon.

VB suggested creating a presentation on the work of the London VAPC which could be used to brief Members of Parliament, Regimental Secretaries and others.

AM suggested briefing Patrick O’Brien of the Covenant Team at the Ministry of Defence on the work of the committee.

Co-opting new members

FRH noted that John Halliday and Ally Musthan, who had agreed to be co-opted to the committee, were present.

Statutory instrument

FRH reported that, although a working group had been established to draft the statutory instrument needed to implement the provisions in the VAPC Act 2023, officials were still awaiting input from the Minister before putting the document before parliament.

JH suggested liaising with Lord Lancaster, who had sponsored the VAPC Act 2023 through the House of Lords, to ensure he was aware that the proposed statutory instrument was still at the drafting stage.

Strategy development

FRH reported that the Ministry of Defence had published a new veterans’ strategy on 10 November 2025. Key points were: A new vision: “That veterans are celebrated for their service, their potential is fully realised, and the right support is in place to achieve this”; there were three key themes: (i) celebrate (ii) contribute and (iii) support. There were also various targeted outcomes and actions to deliver the outcomes.

LS suggested that it was important that a representative of the VAPCs was included in any advisory body for the new veterans’ strategy implementation. This is linked to how VAPCs should remain an independent voice supporting Operation Valour.

Performance data

FRH reported on recent data relating to the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). WPS relates to injury, illness, or death before 6 April 2005 and AFCS relates to injury, illness or death after that date.

The committee again expressed strong concerns about the length of time it was taking to get claims processed. However, it was also noted that the recent spike in the number of claims might, in part, be due to the increasing number of law firms active in this area.

Reports from the common interest groups

FRH reported that LS, FLW and himself continued to represent the committee on the Employment and Transitioning Common Interest Group (‘CIG’). AR continued to represent the committee on the Health CIG. Meanwhile, JB and AK continued to represent the committee on the Housing CIG, and AWT continued to represent the committee on the Veterans and the Law CIG.

Working from the Greater London Authority and London boroughs

FRH reported that he had attended a Veterans Roundtable arranged by Councillor Len Duvall of the Greater London Assembly on 3 December 2025, a Veterans Network Event arranged by the London Borough of Ealing on 11 November 2025, and a meeting with Councillor James Small-Edwards of Westminster City Council on 5 December 2025.

It was agreed to write to Len Duvall to congratulate him on his elevation to the peerage.

Working with military charities

FRH reported that he had met with Major Garry Bartholomew of the Royal Lancers on 9 October 2025. The Royal Lancers currently use the Leafyard app to stay in touch with veterans.

FRH reported that he had met with Nick Barnett, Regional Manager for the East of England for Op Nova, on 20 October 2025. The Op Nova programme, which is intended to support veterans involved with the criminal justice system, seeks to stop re-offending by veterans.

FRH reported that he had met with Andrew Jackson who, with his daughter, operates a business known as Troopr on 27 October 2025. Troopr is an app which brings together jobs, housing and well-being advice for veterans.

FLW reported on recent meetings she had held with the Household Cavalry Foundation, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Mission Motorsport, the Fighting Chance, Help for Heroes and Walking with the Wounded.

LS offered to introduce members of the committee to Blind Veterans UK.

Working with the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

LS reported that, because of illness, the proposed meeting with the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association continued to be deferred.

Any other business

FRH reported that he had attended a meeting of the Armed Forces All Party Parliamentary Group on 4 November 2025. The meeting was largely about the failure of many local authorities to disregard compensation for military injuries when assessing housing and other benefits (i.e. they include compensation for injuries in means tests). RBL has been lobbying to stop this practice.

Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place at 4pm on 18 March 2026 at a location to be decided or by videoconference.