HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc561-2W
24. Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he intends to make it his policy to make a single Minister responsible for all ex-serviice men's affairs.

Mr. Soames

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence is usually responsible for those issues relating to former service personnel with which the Department deals directly. The Government do not, however, propose to appoint a single Minister to co-ordinate matters concerning the ex-service community across the range of Government; I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 22 November 1994,Official Report, columns 461–62.