Guidance

VAPC London: meeting minutes 19 March 2025

Updated 19 June 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

Caroline Flynn Macleod (CFM)

Bishnu Gurung (BG)

Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE (CSPH)

Adam Kurzeja (AK)

Larry Stone (LS)

Brian Willmore (BW) (part)

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska (FLW)

Apologies 

Victoria Bell (VB)

Jim Blake (JB)

Annabel Goulding (AG)

Charles Perrett (CP)

Alpa Raja (AR)

Alex Woolgar-Toms (AWT)

Welcome 

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. The committee, having noted that BW had submitted his resignation, agreed to thank BW for his important contribution, particularly on matters relating to the London Boroughs and to mental health. BW responded by saying how much he had enjoyed working with colleagues on the committee. BW then left the meeting.

Apologies for absence 

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

Minutes of 18 December 2024 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 reported that the Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, wrote to regional chairs on 19 December 2024 to confirm the topics and timetable for submission of the regional VAPC reports to him. The minister also mentioned that he was developing a future strategy for veterans. To that end, he had launched a review by three senior individuals to advise him on the future strategy for veterans.

FRH confirmed that the London VAPC report to the minister was submitted on 5 February 2025.

FRH thanked the committee for their help in compiling the report, which was very wide-ranging and included over 40 recommendations covering topics as diverse as communications, casework management, housing, health, suicide prevention, veterans’ services, compensation, charities and the Gurkha Community. He expressed, in particular, his appreciation for the significant contributions from FLW, LS and CSPH.

FRH reported that an executive summary introducing the reports from the 12 regions had been prepared and that the regional chairs had been invited to a meeting with the minister to take place in April 2025.

FLW enquired about the review that the minister had instigated and the likely outcome for the VAPCs. She pointed out that VAPC members were required to carry out vital work to support veterans on a non-remunerated basis.

CSPH observed that the work of the VAPCs may not appear to be well understood. He emphasized the importance of introducing clarifying thoughts to help create better understanding of the vital work of the VAPCs for policy makers. He also suggested that it was important to liaise with other VAPC chairs to ensure effective engagement for and with the MOD.

CFM suggested contacting local Members of Parliament to remind them of the role of the VAPCs and to advise them that the committee had recently submitted a wide-ranging report on the topics listed above. AK also indicated support for this approach.

LS observed that it was less than two years since the VAPC Act 2023 had received all party support in parliament and, as such, it was counter-intuitive to suggest that the role of VAPCs might be curtailed in any way.

After discussion, it was agreed to (i) liaise with other VAPC chairs to ensure effective engagement with the MOD and (ii) to update local Members of Parliament as outlined above.

Communications

FRH reported that the MOD had given VAPC members access to the Defence Gateway system to allow secure exchange of information. All people accessing the system were required to meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) which is the recognised standard for the pre-employment screening of individuals with access to government assets.

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 following various reviews before progressing the drafting.

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 the outcome of the various reviews ongoing in the MOD as well as 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’). LS was liaising with the US Embassy to arrange a meeting with representatives of the US Department of Defence, but the embassy was currently extremely busy.

FRH reported that FW and AR continued to represent the committee on the Health CIG. Meanwhile, JB and AK represent the committee on the Housing CIG, and AWT represents the committee on the Veterans and the Law CIG. LS reported that he was awaiting information from the Patient Safety Commissioner about any identifiable veterans’ experience in their patient safety work programme.

FRH reported that nominations were being sought for a refreshed Health CIG and a new Education CIG.

FW indicated her intention to withdraw from the Health CIG on the basis that, not being medically qualified, she felt unable to contribute as much as she would like.

AK reported that the Housing CIG had not yet met.

Working from the Greater London Authority and London boroughs

FRH reported that there had been no further developments since the last committee meeting.

Working with military charities

FRH reported that he had met with Alex Walmsley, national vice chair of the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmens’ Families Association (‘SSAFA’) on 25 February 2025.

FRH reported that FLW and himself had met with Tony Hulton, CEO of Walking with the Wounded on 26 February 2025. FLW observed that Mr Hulton had mentioned the importance of in-person meetings with veterans in need of help.

FRH reported that he continued to attend the drop-ins at St Pancras Hospital monthly, and had also started attending the drop-ins at St Thomas’ Hospital on a more irregular basis.

FLW reported that she had been attending the drop-ins at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and that she continued to liaise with representatives from Beyond the Wire, the Defence Garden Scheme and The Fighting Chance, among others.

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 had been deferred until later in the year.

Any other business

There was no other business.

Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place at 4pm on 18 June 2025 at Barclays Rise or by video conference.