Terms of reference

1. The Welsh Government determines policy on a wide range of public services in Wales. These include education, health, local government, transport, planning, economic development, social care, culture, environment, and agriculture. Service delivery takes account of the particular needs and circumstances of Wales, which may not be the same as in England.

2. The Welsh Government is committed to providing high quality services to the Armed Forces community. The Expert Group brings together people with detailed knowledge of issues which affect the Armed Forces community (or a specific part of it) in Wales, to improve our understanding of their needs and of ways in which service delivery might be improved.

3. The Group is chaired by Alun Davies AM, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government & Public Services. The minister’s portfolio includes responsibility for the Armed Forces community in Wales.

Other membership is:

• Welsh Government Armed Forces Advocate for Wales
• Head of Army in Wales
• Head of Navy in Wales
• Head of RAF in Wales
• Army Family Federation
• Navy Family Federation
• RAF Family Federation
• HIVE
• The Royal British Legion
• Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA)
• Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA)
• Veterans Welfare Service
• The Confederation of Service Charities (COBSEO)
• Ministry Of Defence Covenant Team
• Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
• Veterans NHS Wales
• NOMS in Wales
• Local Health Board representation
• Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)

The Expert Group may invite representation from other organisations, when necessary to assist with particular service areas and deliver specific projects.

4. Each member of the group will be responsible for disseminating the work of the group within their own organisation structure.

Updates on the work of the group will be made to relevant national and regional stakeholders on a bi-annual basis.

The Expert Group will link, where appropriate, to other networks and groups such as the WLGA Armed Forces Network, whose purpose includes the following:

• Discuss issues of local, regional and national interest being raised by the Armed Forces Community
• Raise awareness of identified issues to the Expert Group for consideration
• Promote sharing of information and good practice both internally and externally with interested organisations.

5. To consider:

• the public service needs of Armed Forces personnel, their families, and veterans in Wales
• to identify and agree key areas of work that help improve the needs of the Armed Forces community in Wales
• to work together to deliver solutions to areas of identified need, and
• promote sharing of information and good practice both internally and externally with interested parties.

6. Meetings of the Expert Group are held twice a year. Group members are welcome to contact the secretariat between meetings if they wish to propose an issue for inclusion in the agenda.

7. In line with the Welsh Government’s commitment to openness, we will publish bi-lingual minutes on our website as soon as possible after the meeting to which they relate.

8. The Welsh Government’s Armed Forces Advocate, Reg Kilpatrick will attend the Group’s meetings, along with Welsh Government’s Armed Forces Team. Other officials from the Welsh Government or Welsh public bodies will attend when their responsibilities are being discussed.