To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to hold events in Northern Ireland to mark Veterans Day on 27 June 2009. (264780)

I have been asked to reply.

A number of local communities within Northern Ireland have plans to hold Armed Forces Day (previously known as Veterans Day) events on or around 27 June 2009 including Carrickfergus, Ballymena and Bangor. The Ministry of Defence (Armed Forces Day Project Team) will be providing organisers of these events with financial assistance in the form of a grant to support their events where these meet the MOD's requirements for promoting the day.