Dear Mr Turner,

Thank you for your letter of 31 January 2025 to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) enclosing your Regulation 28 Report following the sad death of Mr Aeran Taylor on 27 October
2023. My deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by Mr Taylor’s death.

Your report raised four concerns, surrounding assessments made following drug misuse in service, and the availability and awareness of support for veterans. I am grateful to you for bringing these matters to my attention. In considering my response, I have reviewed Mr Taylor’s service records and consulted with The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF), the MOD’s Veteran Welfare Service (VWS) and Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA).

It is evident from Mr Taylor’s service records that checks were made as part of the discharge process to establish any mitigating factors which may have led to his drug use. Mr Taylor was interviewed following a positive compulsory drug test and his mental health was reviewed by the Medical Officer as part of his release medical. No significant concerns were noted on the contemporaneous record to indicate a possible correlation with potential PTSD, or other reasons for the behaviour. As you highlight, clinical mental health assessments are routine and since 2012, all personnel at discharge medicals or boards potentially leading to discharge undergo a Structured Mental Health Assessment (SMHA). If a SMHA indicates a need for a referral to the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), this is promptly arranged and support can last up to 6 months post-service, ensuring continuity of care.

The delivery of support for veterans, including long term treatment, is a multi-agency effort. On discharge, the MOD makes every effort to ensure individuals are appropriately transitioned into civilian life and that aftercare is in place should this be required. Support

OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL

is provided throughout and following transition, by the Defence Transition Services (DTS) and VWS. Access to VWS is available at any time for veterans, recognising that some life challenges do not become apparent until post-transition, such as addiction or issues concerning mental health. Indeed, I understand Mr Taylor was in contact with and received support from VWS between 2013 and 2018. In terms of healthcare following transition, this is delivered by statutory health services in collaboration with the third sector. The MOD continues to support veterans through the OVA, which works to improve coordination of veterans’ issues across Government.

I recognise that we need to ensure our veterans, past, present, and future are aware of the support available to them as this provision develops. The OVA has a support directory on gov.uk to ensure this information is readily available and accessible to our veterans. The OVA are also exploring options to better coordinate and cohere the support for veterans. This includes those with the most complex needs, across central, devolved and local government, and the third sector. The focus is to improve data and insights, governance and accountability in an institutionally resilient way, and how we work more closely with local service providers including local authorities.

Raising awareness of the support available will include the promotion of regimental welfare associations, whom I agree have an important role to play. While membership is voluntary, each Regimental or Corps Headquarters in the Army has an Association or equivalent for its serving personnel and veterans. In Mr Taylor’s regiment, the RRF, everyone who has served is entitled to be a member and receive support from the Regimental Charity, The Fusiliers Aid Society (FAS), who I understand did provide Mr Taylor with support.  I know that the RRF ensure that all Fusiliers are briefed on joining and discharge on the support available to them. However, I accept that does not mean support and awareness is universal, but I would highlight that Regimental and Corps Headquarters are working to increase awareness of their Associations to current and former personnel. I will ensure that this continues.

I hope my response is clear and reassures you that there are sufficient processes in place to identify any possible correlations between an individual’s service and a behaviour. Ensuring veterans can access the support available to them is a priority for me, and this Government. We will continue to work hard to raise awareness of the support available to our Armed Forces community to ensure it does not go unnoticed by those who most need it.

OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL OFFICIAL SENSITIVE PERSONAL

Thank you for writing to me regarding these matters. Your challenge is imperative to ensure that the MOD learns from these tragic events and continues to provide the best support to our Armed Forces personnel. My thoughts remain with Mr Taylor’s family and all those affected by his very sad death.