§ 26. Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will next be meeting representatives of the Royal British Legion and other ex-service organisations in order to discuss the promotion of the interests of ex-service personnel and their dependants. [14653]
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has no plans at present to meet representatives of the Royal British Legion or other ex-service organisations. At a meeting last November between the Minister of State for Social Security, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and the Legion it was agreed that many of the matters relating to the welfare of former service personnel fall within the scope of the Department of Social Security. As a result of this agreement, that Department is now taking the lead on this issue.