To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has held with (a) the Local Government Association, (b) veterans' associations, (c) the Gurkha Welfare Association and (d) others on the housing needs resulting from army discharges. (130526)

Discussions take place regularly with the Department for Communities and Local Government and other interested parties, these include a quarterly meeting involving representatives from the veterans' and wider charitable organisations. I met with my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government and Community Cohesion (Mr. Woolas) on 13 March to discuss housing issues. Recent discussions have covered a wide range of subjects including veterans' homelessness projects of current interest and research into levels of homelessness among veterans and the measures to address these.

There have been no recent direct discussions with the Local Government Association or Gurkha specific charitable organisations.