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Armed Forces Covenant

Asked by Paul DaviesLabourMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 3 July 2025UIN 62879

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the document entitled Armed Forces Covenant Duty Statutory Guidance, published on 8 November 2022 among (a) Departments, (b) local authorities and (c) other public bodies.

Answered by Al Carns

We are delivering on our commitment to put the Covenant fully into law. This new Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty will apply to all Government Departments and Devolved Governments, expanding from three policy areas at a local level, to 14 broad and vital policy areas affecting the Armed Forces community. This law will make sure that respect for our Armed Forces community is not just spoken but woven into the very fabric of our policy and service delivery decisions.

This Government remains steadfast in our commitment—not only to those who wear the uniform, but to the families who support them, and the loved ones who carry on after their loss. By placing the Covenant at the heart of Government decision-making, and through the introduction of VALOUR, we are building a system that will deliver on the promise we’ve made, and giving our people the deal they deserve.

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