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Venue: Department of Work & Pensions, 4 Abbey Orchard Street, London SW1P 2BS with some members joining using Microsoft Teams

Time: 4pm to 5.30pm

笔谤别蝉别苍迟听

Robin Herzberg (FRH) 鈥� Chairman

Caroline Flynn Macleod (CFM)

John Halliday (JH) (co-opted)

Ally Musthan (AM) (Co-opted)

Alpa Raja (AR)

Larry Stone (LS)

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska (FLW)

础辫辞濒辞驳颈别蝉听

Victoria Bell (VB)

Jim Blake (JB)

Annabel Goulding (AG)

Bishnu Gurung (BG)

Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE (CSPH)

Charles Perrett (CP)

Alex Woolgar-Toms (AWT)

奥别濒肠辞尘别听

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting,

Apologies for absence聽

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

It was also noted that Adam Kurzeja had resigned from the commitee because of a perceived conflict of interest following a change of employment.

Minutes of 17 December 2025 meeting聽

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

Action: 贵搁贬听

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 been invited to a meeting with the minister on 25 March 2026 at which the Minister would set out her decision on the future of the VAPCs.

It was agreed that the committee should continue to stress its unique credentials viz its independence, its regional footprint and, through its networks, its ability to get at the 鈥済round truth鈥�.

It was also agreed that once the Minister鈥檚 decision was known, an ad hoc group of such members of the committee as were available should meet to discuss next steps. It was also agreed that, as far as possible, this meeting should be held in person.

Co-opting new members

FRH proposed and FLW seconded that Andrew Collins, who was a partner in the legal firm of Charles Russell Speechlys, be co-opted. This was agreed.

FRH reminded the committee that his own term as chair of the London VAPC would expire on 25 April 2026.

LS proposed and FLW seconded that FRH be co-opted as from 25 April 2026 to serve as a member of and chair of the London VAPC for a period of three years or until such time as (i) he is formally reappointed by the Minister or (ii) VAPCs are formally discontinued. This was also agreed.

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 the UKCVC was awaiting the outcome of Stewart Blackburn鈥檚 meeting with the minister on 25 March 2026 before progressing strategy development.

Performance data

FRH reported that a meeting, which was to have been held to discuss recent data relating to the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and which was due to have taken place on 27 February 2026, had been cancelled.

The committee expressed strong concerns about the length of time it was taking to get claims processed, as well as the cancellation of the meeting to discuss such matters.

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 (鈥楥IG鈥�). 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.

FLW suggested that there should be a mechanism for sharing the recommendations of each of the regional VAPCs with the other VAPCs. FRH agreed to explore this with the other chairs.

Working from the Greater London Authority and London boroughs

FRH reported that he had attended a Veterans Roundtable arranged by Lord Duvall of the Greater London Assembly on 4 March 2026.

Working with military charities

FRH reported that he had met with with Charles Highett, CEO of PTSD Resolution on 9 December 2025. PTSD Resolution is a business providing mental health services to veterans.

FRH also reported that he had met with Jonathan Scott-Laws, who is an employment advisor at Walking with the Wounded, on 16 December 2025. He had also met with Marcus Green and James Hill, who are social welfare specialists at Walking with the Wounded on 15 January 2026.

FRH also reported that Frances Wyhowska and himself had met John Scarborough of Millwall Football Club on 16 February 2026. The club holds veterans鈥� training sessions every Thursday evening as well as amateur matches involving veterans鈥� teams every Saturday morning.

FRH reported that he continues to attend the drop-ins at St Pancras Hospital on a monthly basis and that Frances Wyhowska and himself had been attending the quarterly London Armed Forces Network (鈥楲AFN鈥�) meetings organised by The Poppy Factory, which is the local provider under the Thrive Together Programme, formerly known the Veterans Places, Pathways and People (鈥榁PPP鈥�) Programme.

JH suggested that the LAFN should set aside time at future meetings for 鈥減roblem solving鈥�. FRH agreed to explore that at a future LAFN strategy committee meeting.

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

JH reported Operation Ascend, which was about creating career pathways, was under review and was likely to become sector-based rather than skills-based.

Date of the next meeting

It was agreed that the next scheduled meeting would take place at 16.00 on 17 June 2026 at the Department of Work & Pensions in London or by videoconference.