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War Pensions

Volume 508: debated on Wednesday 7 April 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future provision of services to war pensioners; whether he plans to close any war pensions offices; and if he will make a statement. (325697)

The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) is part of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) and provides one to one support, via telephone and home visits, to veterans throughout the UK and Ireland. Advice can be offered on many issues but the most common are war pension/compensation entitlement and applications, housing, benefits, employment and personal welfare.

The VWS has been reorganised into five regional centres each providing one to one telephone advice. This has improved customer service and efficiency, without reducing the capacity to handle cases. All the welfare managers who conduct home visits have been retained.

Veterans organisations were advised of the change and War Pensions Committee chairmen formally gave their backing.