Welsh Government Rejects Proposal To Create Armed Forces Minister

The Welsh Government has rejected the notion of creating an Armed Forces Minister for Wales.

Assembly members have claimed that members of the armed forces and veterans suffer with a number of issues in the areas such as health and housing.

However, Public Services Secretary Alun Davies said that the £500,000 estimated budget for the post of Welsh Armed Forces Minister would “divert resources” from other practical services.

He did, however, pledge to strengthen support for service members.

The notion of creating an armed forces commissioner was raised in 2016, and in 2017 Davies said that he would examine the idea of creating such a post in Wales.

In a written statement released today, he praised the Armed Forces Expert Group in Wales, but stated that an Armed Forces Minister would not “add any further benefit or value”. He said:

"The cost of approximately £550k per annum to fund a Commissioner and support staff would divert resources from practical services and support for the Armed Forces community in Wales."

However, he added that he would ask AM’s to “strengthen the veterans unit within Welsh Government and to provide me with a further detailed assessment of gaps in service delivery"