The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group met twice in 2019 and twice in 2020.

The Cabinet Office are responsible for arranging the meetings of the Covenant Reference Group (CRG). The Ministry of Defence is unaware of any plans to hold a CRG meeting in Northern Ireland this year.

The Northern Ireland Assembly agreed to nominate appropriate representatives to the national governance bodies of the Armed Forces Covenant on 6 December 2016. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has urged all parties to make appropriate nominations to the Covenant's national governance bodies a priority for the devolved Government once reconvened. In the interim, Northern Ireland's interests on the national governance bodies of the Armed Forces Covenant are represented by Ministers and officials from the Northern Ireland Office.

The hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Jeffrey Donaldson) wrote to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Ben Gummer) on 21 October 2016 to advise that Mrs Brenda Hale MLA had been nominated to sit on the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group as a Northern Ireland representative.

The Armed Forces Covenant is making a real difference in Northern Ireland, where it is enshrined in law. Funding bids have been more successful there than in any other part of the UK - grants include £450,000 to Combat Stress to provide mental health support to veterans.

There is an open invitation to the Northern Ireland Executive to join the Covenant Reference Group (CRG). The Government wishes them to take a full and active part in the group, alongside the other Devolved Administrations. Whilst the Northern Ireland Executive has not yet put forward a representative for the CRG, much useful and effective engagement takes place at Executive departmental level.

Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials have recently held discussions with their opposite numbers in the Northern Ireland Executive. This resulted in the compilation of the most comprehensive record to date of Covenant achievements in Northern Ireland, highlighted in the Covenant Annual Report which I laid before Parliament on 16 December 2014. In addition, the Northern Ireland Executive has recently been invited, with the other Devolved Administrations, to attend a series of quarterly meetings in the MOD to consider specifically Covenant issues.

There is an open invitation to the Northern Ireland Executive to join the Covenant Reference Group although, as yet, this has not been accepted. In the debate on the Covenant in Northern Ireland on 22 October 2014 (Official report, column 1002) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Andrew Murrison, reminded the House that the offer had been made and that the door was still open, and thoroughly recommended that the Northern Ireland Executive take a full and active part in the group.

The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group (CRG) is chaired by the Cabinet Office, and its members represent the following government departments and organisations: Ministry

of Defence, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, Her Majesty’s Treasury, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry Of Justice, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Office, the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association, the War Widows’ Association, the Naval Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and a member of the independent academic community.

A copy of the terms of reference for the CRG has been placed in the Library of the House.

With regard to future strategy, the Armed Forces Covenant annual report, last published in December 2012, sets out delivery against commitments as well as identifying areas where more needs to be done. This annual report is developed in conjunction with the CRG and the comments of non-government CRG members are published within it, setting out their view of future areas of work.

To date the CRG has agreed to fund projects to the value of £7,190,500. A breakdown showing the delivery organisation and the funds allocated is given below.

The first tranche of LIBOR funding was agreed by all non-government members of the CRG but, in the interests of improved governance, it is envisaged that future LIBOR Funding panels will comprise a smaller group made up from the wider CRG membership, who will be required to declare their interest in bids which will be recorded as part of the governance process.

The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group (CRG) is chaired by the Cabinet Office, and its members represent the following government departments and organisations: Ministry

of Defence, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, Her Majesty’s Treasury, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry Of Justice, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Office, the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association, the War Widows’ Association, the Naval Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and a member of the independent academic community.

A copy of the terms of reference for the CRG has been placed in the Library of the House.

With regard to future strategy, the Armed Forces Covenant annual report, last published in December 2012, sets out delivery against commitments as well as identifying areas where more needs to be done. This annual report is developed in conjunction with the CRG and the comments of non-government CRG members are published within it, setting out their view of future areas of work.

To date the CRG has agreed to fund projects to the value of £7,190,500. A breakdown showing the delivery organisation and the funds allocated is given below.

The first tranche of LIBOR funding was agreed by all non-government members of the CRG but, in the interests of improved governance, it is envisaged that future LIBOR Funding panels will comprise a smaller group made up from the wider CRG membership, who will be required to declare their interest in bids which will be recorded as part of the governance process.

The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group (CRG) is chaired by the Cabinet Office, and its members represent the following government departments and organisations: Ministry

of Defence, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, Her Majesty’s Treasury, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry Of Justice, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Office, the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association, the War Widows’ Association, the Naval Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and a member of the independent academic community.

A copy of the terms of reference for the CRG has been placed in the Library of the House.

With regard to future strategy, the Armed Forces Covenant annual report, last published in December 2012, sets out delivery against commitments as well as identifying areas where more needs to be done. This annual report is developed in conjunction with the CRG and the comments of non-government CRG members are published within it, setting out their view of future areas of work.

To date the CRG has agreed to fund projects to the value of £7,190,500. A breakdown showing the delivery organisation and the funds allocated is given below.

The first tranche of LIBOR funding was agreed by all non-government members of the CRG but, in the interests of improved governance, it is envisaged that future LIBOR Funding panels will comprise a smaller group made up from the wider CRG membership, who will be required to declare their interest in bids which will be recorded as part of the governance process.

The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group (CRG) is chaired by the Cabinet Office, and its members represent the following government departments and organisations: Ministry

of Defence, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, Her Majesty’s Treasury, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry Of Justice, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Office, the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association, the War Widows’ Association, the Naval Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and a member of the independent academic community.

A copy of the terms of reference for the CRG has been placed in the Library of the House.

With regard to future strategy, the Armed Forces Covenant annual report, last published in December 2012, sets out delivery against commitments as well as identifying areas where more needs to be done. This annual report is developed in conjunction with the CRG and the comments of non-government CRG members are published within it, setting out their view of future areas of work.

To date the CRG has agreed to fund projects to the value of £7,190,500. A breakdown showing the delivery organisation and the funds allocated is given below.

The first tranche of LIBOR funding was agreed by all non-government members of the CRG but, in the interests of improved governance, it is envisaged that future LIBOR Funding panels will comprise a smaller group made up from the wider CRG membership, who will be required to declare their interest in bids which will be recorded as part of the governance process.