Veterans Advisory Board - Best place in the world to be a veteran
Dear Cabinet Office,
In 2020, I sent a FOI request regarding the VAB to the Cabinet Office. Because the Cabinet Office appears to not publish FOI requests relating to the Veterans Advisory Board or Office for Veterans' Affairs, I have copied the contents of the FOI response (FOI2020/20958) at the end of this message.
1. FOI2020/20958 stated, "The Government recognises the importance of understanding and sharing best practice internationally and that it will be an important part of measuring the delivery of the ‘vision to make the UK the best place to be a veteran in the world by 2028’." and "As of 1 December 2020, the international assessment has not been made into which country is the best place in the world to be a veteran, and to date, the Veterans Advisory Board has not advised on metrics to be used in this assessment, having only met once."
a. Has the VAB discussed veteran-related "best practice internationally"?
b. Has "the international assessment" been made into which country is the best place in the world to be a veteran?
c. Has the VAB advised on metrics to be used in such an "international assessment"?
d. As of 26 May 2023, where is the best place in the world to be a veteran?
e. As of 26 May 2023, what is the UK's current ranking in the list of the world's
best places to be a veteran?
Many thanks for your assistance,
Charlie Radclyffe
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FOI2020/20958 response in full:
"www.cabinet office.gov.uk
FOI Reference: FOI2020/20958
31/12/2020
Dear Charles Radclyffe
I refer to your request where you asked:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I applaud the creation of the Veterans Advisory Board. I have some questions regarding
its actions, potential conflicts of interest and recruitment, which I ask to be answered
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I hope that the answers to these questions
will provide the public greater reassurance about the laudable intentions of the Board.
1. Assessing the best place to be a veteran in the world
The Board's Terms of Reference states, "The Veterans Advisory Board will act... in
order to support the delivery of... the achievement of its vision to make the UK the best
place to be a veteran in the world by 2028". To make this statement, one can assume
that the Board knows the UK's current ranking because without such information we
cannot know that we aren't already the best place to be a veteran (which I imagine
would be celebrated by all concerned, particularly veterans).
a. As of 1 December 2020, where is the best place in the world to be a veteran?
b. As of 1 December 2020, what is the UK's current ranking in the list of the world's
best places to be a veteran?
c. What metrics will the Board use to assess the UK's future ranking in the list of
best places to be a veteran in the world?
2. Potential conflicts of interest
The Board's Terms of Reference states, "Board members will need to be clear about
any potential conflicts between this role and their other professional activities..."
a. Is the Board intending to publish members' Declarations of Interests, as required
by many other governmental advisory boards?
b. If not, why has the Board decided to not publish this data, hence limiting the
public's assurance that members do not have any potential conflicts of interest?
3. Board member recruitment
a. Was the recruitment of Board members an advertised process with a selection
procedure that best ensured the Board's ability to meet current and future
needs?
b. If not, why not? “
I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I
have established that the information you requested is held by the Cabinet Office.
In response to Question 1: As of 1 December 2020, the international assessment has
not been made into which country is the best place in the world to be a veteran, and to
date, the Veterans Advisory Board has not advised on metrics to be used in this
assessment, having only met once. Minutes from this meeting will be published on the
Government website in due course.
The Government recognises the importance of understanding and sharing best practice
internationally and that it will be an important part of measuring the delivery of the
‘vision to make the UK the best place to be a veteran in the world by 2028’. This work
closely ties into the Government’s commitment in the ‘Strategy Action Plan’, published
in January 2020, to the ‘enhanced collection, use and analysis of data across the public,
private and charitable sectors to build an evidence base to effectively identify and
address the needs of Veterans’.
In response to Question 2: The Veterans Advisory Board intends to publish members’
Declarations of Interest, in line with the requirements of governmental advisory boards.
This information is being withheld as it is exempt under section 22(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act. Section 22(1) protects information intended for future publication.
Section 22 is a qualified exemption and I have considered whether the balance of the
public interest favours releasing or withholding this information.
There is a general public interest in disclosure of information and I recognise that
openness in government may increase public trust in and engagement with the
government. However the public interest in permitting public authorities to publish
information in a manner and form and at a time of their own choosing is also important.
It is a part of the effective conduct of public affairs that the general publication of
information is a conveniently planned and managed activity within the reasonable
control of public authorities. As there is a commitment to publish, we are reasonably
entitled to make our own arrangements to do so.
After weighing up the competing public interest considerations, we consider it is
reasonable that the information held should be withheld from disclosure until the future
date of publication and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs
the public interest in disclosure.
In response to Question 3: The Veterans Advisory Board was launched as part of
delivery of the UK Government’s 2018 ‘Strategy for Our Veterans’ and subsequent 2020
‘Strategy Action Plan’. Recruitment for the Board members was not an advertised
process, as Ministers may make direct appointments where roles fulfil an advisory
function directly to Ministers, where the roles are relatively short term (up to eighteen
months) and to highlight, advise or champion a specific issue; in this case support for
the veteran community.
The Board will initially be composed of up to 12 members with its structure and
composition to be reviewed a year after the inaugural Board meeting. Membership of
the Advisory Board will be for an initial eighteen-month term with the option to renew for
a further two terms up to a maximum of 4.5 years. The Board composition aims to
reflect the broadest possible blend of experiences and background which, to the extent
possible reflects the diversity of the veterans community.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the FOI Team quoting the
reference number above.
...
FOI Team
Cabinet Office"
Dear Charlie Radclyffe,
Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately your email does not constitute a valid request for
information as outlined in section 8(1)(c) of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000. The Act does not require public authorities to create new
information or to provide opinion or explanation in order to respond to a
request or query. The purpose of the Act is to consider the confirmation
or provision of recorded information that already exists. Advice on how to
make a valid request can be accessed on the Information Commissioner’s
website at: [1]https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/offici...
Alternatively, if you would like your email treated as
correspondence, please let us know and we will forward your email to the
correspondence team.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Cabinet Office
Dear Cabinet Office,
Thank you for your reply on 12 June 2023. I have simplified my request.
1. Has the Veterans Advisory Board decided which country is currently the best country in the world to be a veteran and, if so, which country did they select?
2. Has the Veterans Advisory Board decided upon the UK's ranking in the list of the world's best countries to be a veteran and, if so, what is the UK's current ranking?
3. What metrics has the Veterans Advisory Board selected to assess where in the world is the best country to be a veteran?
Many thanks for your assistance,
Charlie Radclyffe
Yours sincerely,
Charlie Radclyffe
Our ref: FOI2023/13022
Dear Charlie Radclyffe,
Thank you for your request for information which was received on 8th
November. Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 ('the Act').
The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore aim to reply at the latest by
7th December.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Cabinet Office
Dear Charlie Radclyffe,
Please find attached our response to your recent Freedom of Information
request (reference FOI2023/13022).
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Cabinet Office
Dear Cabinet Office,
Thank you for your reply.
On 31/12/2020, in FOI2020/20958, the Cabinet Office stated, "As of 1 December 2020, the international assessment has not been made into which country is the best place in the world to be a veteran, and to
date, the Veterans Advisory Board has not advised on metrics to be used in this assessment, having only met once."
Please can you share what steps the Veterans Advisory Board or Cabinet Office has taken or plan to take to identify the best place in the world to be a veteran, including the metrics to undertake any such an assessment?
Yours faithfully,
Charlie Radclyffe
Our ref: FOI2023/14678
Dear Charlie Radclyffe,
Thank you for your request for information which was received on 8th
December. Your request is being handled under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 ('the Act').
The Act requires that a response must be given promptly, and in any event
within 20 working days. We will therefore aim to reply at the latest by
11th January.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Cabinet Office
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for raising your questions on the VAB and contacting the
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP. We can
confirm that your correspondence was and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs
is now working on a response to the issue you raised.
We aim to provide you with an official response within 20 working days
from the date of this acknowledgement. If you have not had a reply within
that time frame, please do get back in touch with us.
Yours sincerely,
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
Dear Charlie Radclyffe,
Thank you for contacting the Cabinet Office. Please find a response
attached.
Yours sincerely,
Public Correspondence Team
Cabinet Office
Do not reply to this e-mail. If you wish to send a further response or
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