After a meeting with local veterans at the NAAFI Break Club in Handforth I led a debate in Parliament on their behalf last week.

Their primary concern was the lack of measures in place to support veterans when they leave the armed forces and transition back in to civilian life.

They want to see a more structured support, clear signposting, and ongoing checks for those leaving the services.

Having gone through the process themselves, the group felt much more care and attention was given to getting people into the armed forces than was given to those leaving it.

Members felt information in the form of a book should be issued to each service member when they leave the forces, containing a list of contacts and assistance on offer, which can be referenced as and when needed.

They felt too, a full medical screening should be put in place looking at all health conditions including PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

Sebastian and Gianna Edwards-Beech who set up the support group felt they didn’t know where to go or who to contact about Sebastian’s PTSD.

I asked the minister to look at mental health more generally of our ex-service men and women and to ensure the Armed Forces Covenant, an agreement that Government and local authorities would provide adequate support, recognition, and assistance to those who had served.

These simple changes could make an enormous difference to veterans across not only Tatton but the country.

In addition to the debate, I now have a meeting with the minister on this matter.

In response to my debate one of the points Government made was: "all service people, from private soldiers to Chief of the Defence Staff, come to defence from civilian life, and to civilian life they will return."

"Preparing for that inevitability is not something that should happen in a rush in someone’s last few weeks spent in uniform, but from day one."

This is what my constituents who have served want to see and we must make sure it happens.