Leading military charities call on government to strengthen Armed Forces Bill
Combat Stress has joined with 11 other leading military charities to urge the government to strengthen the Armed Forces Bill, currently being considered by parliament, to better support serving personnel, veterans and their families in law.
The Armed Forces Covenant is the government’s and nation’s promise that those men and women – and their families – should not be disadvantaged, and that special consideration may be appropriate, such as for the injured or bereaved.
We welcome the fact that the Bill creates a new legal duty for public bodies to consider the Armed Forces Covenant when making decisions and developing policy. However, we are concerned that the legal requirements only cover limited aspects of housing, health and education and only apply to local government and certain public bodies. This leaves the Armed Forces community without similar protection when it comes to other important issues such as employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice and immigration.
The following joint letter has been co-signed by Combat Stress, the Royal British Legion, Poppyscotland, Cobseo – The Confederation of Service Charities, Veterans Scotland, SSAFA the Armed Forces charity, Help for Heroes, Forces in Mind Trust, the Naval Families Federation, Army Families Federation and RAF Families Federation and RAFA.
Sir,
Whether through their contribution to tackling the pandemic, or the recent commemorations of D-Day and VE Day, the unparalleled contribution of those who have served in the Armed Forces continues to be shown. The Armed Forces Covenant is the government’s and the nation’s promise that those men and women – and their families – should not be disadvantaged, and that special consideration may be appropriate, such as for the injured or bereaved.
The Armed Forces Bill currently before the UK Parliament makes welcome provision for a new legal duty on public bodies to give due regard to the Covenant. However, based on our collective experience working with the Armed Forces community, the Bill does not go far enough. The new duty would only apply to local councils and some limited public bodies delivering housing, health and education. This neither reflects the reality of how the Covenant is delivered, nor the full range of issues affecting those in the Armed Forces community.
Even where services are provided locally, they are often based on national guidance. It is therefore a major gap for national government and the devolved administrations to be exempted from the duty that will be imposed on councils and others. This is compounded by the omission of important topics including employment, pensions, compensation, social care, criminal justice, and immigration from the Bill’s scope.
Now that the Bill has returned to the Commons, we urge the UK Government and MPs to seize this rare opportunity to deliver on the promise of the Covenant. Such a move would attract widespread consensus and be a fitting recognition of the ongoing service and sacrifice of our brave men and women, and the families who support them.
Charles Byrne, Director General, the Royal British Legion
Mark Collins, Interim Chief Executive, Poppyscotland
General Sir John McColl KCB CBE DSO, Chairman of Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities
Chris Hughes, Chairman, Veterans Scotland
Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory, KBE, CB, DL, Chief Executive of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity
Melanie Waters, CEO, Help for Heroes
Jeff Harrison, Interim CEO, Combat Stress
Mike Ellicock, Chief Executive, Forces in Mind Trust
Collette Musgrave, Chief Executive, Army Families Federation
Maria Lyle, Director, RAF Families Federation
Anna Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Naval Families Federation
Nick Bunting OBE, Secretary General and Group CEO, Royal Air Forces Association
The public is encouraged to visit the Royal British Legion website where they can find out more on how to support the campaign and how to contact their local MP. Visit https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/things-to-do/campaigns-pol...