Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee

The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees, formerly the War Pensions Committees, are regional committees established to support veterans and their families in the United Kingdom. Members are appointed by defence ministers but they work independently of the UK Ministry of Defence.^[1]

Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act 2023

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision about veterans advisory and pensions committees; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2023 c. 48
Dates
Royal assent	18 September 2023
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted

History

At the start of the First World War, the activist and writer Sylvia Pankhurst persuaded Minnie Lansbury to become secretary of the League of Rights for Soldiers' and Sailors' Wives and Relatives, fighting for the rights of disabled servicemen and their families.^[2][3] In response to such pressures, the Asquith coalition ministry implemented the Naval and War Military Pensions Act 1915, thereby establishing War Pensions Committees in every county and large town in the UK in early 1916.^[4][5] A total of 155 committees were set up at that time.^[6]

John Hodge, the Minister of Pensions, appointed August 1917, was shocked to come across the "Lost Files Room" with tens of thousands of incomplete claims.^[7] Missing records were common and many disabled servicemen had to wait at least a year to hear about compensation.^[8] A demonstration by disabled veterans in Hyde Park turned violent when police erected barricades in May 1919.^[9] Following strong criticism of the officials administering the compensation payments from Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, the committees were given statutory backing as independent entities in 1921.^[8]

The role of the committees, throughout the 20th century, was to make recommendations to ministers as to the administration of compensation, to hear complaints from applicants and make representations to the minister.^[6]

The committees continued to be organised at local level until the early 21st century.^[10] They were re-organised on a regional level and renamed Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees in 2017.^[11] Further provisions were made for regulation of their work under the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Act 2023.^[12] Committee members were typically appointed for three-year terms.^[13]