Guidance

VAPC London: meeting minutes 17 September 2025

Updated 19 December 2025

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

Bishnu Gurung (BG)

Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE (CSPH)

Alpa Raja (AR)

Larry Stone (LS)

Apologies 

Victoria Bell (VB)

Jim Blake (JB)

Caroline Flynn Macleod (CFM)

Annabel Goulding (AG)

Adam Kurzeja (AK)

Charles Perrett (CP)

Alex Woolgar-Toms (AWT)

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska (FLW)

Welcome 

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence 

It was noted that VB, JB, CFM, AG, AK, CP, AWT and FLW were unable to attend.

Minutes of 18 June 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 confirmed that the regional chairs attended a meeting with the Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, on 22 April 2025. At that meeting the Minister had requested a paper setting out what unique selling points the VAPCs could offer, and how the VAPCs might be able to fit into the structure of Project Valour. The paper requested by the Minister had been prepared and duly submitted on 17 June 2025.

FRH reported that a series of written parliamentary questions had been asked about VAPCs on 27 June 2025, to which the minister responded on 2 July 2025 as follows: “Ministry of Defence officials are currently working through the latest advice that the Veterans Advisory and Pension Committees have provided, for which I am most grateful. We are currently considering their functions and activity against wider Departmental priorities around veterans, which include the new Valour initiative, and recruitment remains paused for the present.”

FRH reported on a briefing Stewart Blackburn, Chair of the UKCVC, had received from civil servants on 8 September. Specifically, he was told that if VAPCs continue to exist at all, after the Minister has considered our position, our access to the Minister is likely to be removed. The committee agreed that this lack of access was a matter of concern.

FRH reported that as part of the recent ministerial reshuffle Al Carns had been replaced as Minister for Veterans and People by Louise Sandher-Jones. Stewart Blackburn had written to the new minister congratulating her on her appointment and seeking an opportunity for the regional chairs to meet her as soon as possible. JB suggested that the London VAPC might consider co-opting members. It was agreed to identify suitable candidates.

Co-opting new members

FRH proposed that John Halliday and Ally Musthan be co-opted to the committee. It was noted that (i) LS and FLW had met the two candidates and supported the proposal and (ii) it had been established that there were no conflicts of interest. The proposal was approved.

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.

Strategy development

FRH reported that Stewart Blackburn, Chair of the UKCVC, had updated the Strategy Document, but that the final document would need to be informed by direction from the Minister.

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.

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 a call with Councilor Mohammed Ahmed, who is the veterans champion at Ealing Council, on 10 July 2025. Ealing Council holds an annual Armed Forces Partnership Forum in spring each year and plans to hold a Veterans Network Event in November 2025. BG advised that he was also in contact with Councilor Ahmed.

Working with military charities

FRH reported that FLW and himself had met with Colonel Richard Walker, CEO, and Steve Bates, Head of Business Operations and Finance, of The Not Forgotten on 25 June 2025. The Not Forgotten is a charity focused on veterans suffering from loneliness and isolation. It holds receptions for veterans at diverse locations around the UK. BG reported that he was also in contact with The Not Forgotten.

FRH reported that FLW and himself had met with Mark Cann, Head of Strategy & Governance, and Arron Dindyal, Head of Veteran Support, at Supporting Wounded Veterans (‘SWV’) on 21 July 2025. SWV provides support for veterans who have been seriously injured because of military service.

FRH reported that he had met with Neal Lancashire, London Regional Coordinator of Care after Combat on 29 July 2025. Care after Combat is a charity based in Newark-on-Trent focused on providing support to veterans in contact with the criminal justice system.

LS offered to arrange a meeting with 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 rooms would no longer be available at Barclays Eagle Labs from 1 January 2026. AR suggested that the committee use the Santander offices at Cheapside. It was agreed to explore this option.

Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place at 4pm on 17 December 2025 at Barclays Eagle Labs or by videoconference. It was agreed that it would be helpful for committee members to attend in person if possible, to allow an informal discussion on strategy for the year ahead to take place.