21 July  2008
MP PRAISES IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR ARMED FORCES

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney has praised the Ministry of Defence for its new Command Paper. It responds to the Royal British Legion’s “Honour the Covenant” campaign and it sets out what more the nation can do to support its Armed Forces, their families and veterans.

David Kidney listened to the Secretary of State announce the new commitments and as a result says the Government has done the right thing:

“Our armed forces are truly inspiring. Every day they are risking their lives in places like Afghanistan and Iraq while their families are at home coping with the pressures of every day life alone. We, as a society, owe them a fundamental duty to look after them and their families.  This Command Paper brings together proposals from across government to support our armed forces, their families and veterans. Two principles underpin it.

o First, we must end the disadvantage created by military lifestyle – where for example being ordered to move you and your family could mean losing your place on a waiting list.

o Secondly, we must recognise that at times it is right and necessary to give special treatment either to remove disadvantage that might have build up over decades, or to recognise sacrifice, for example those seriously injured.

“One of the key changes that we are announcing today is an increase in the compensation payments for wounded personnel.  The top level tariffs in the Armed Forces Compensation scheme will be doubled. This will affect about 80 of our most seriously injured people who have already made claims since the scheme began in 2005 – and obviously will apply to the most serious claims in future. Though of course no amount of money can ever make up for the pain and suffering that these brave people have suffered.”

Along with this are a range of measures including priority access to adapted social housing for our most seriously injured people; free additional education up to first degree level for service leavers after six years of service; ensuring that our people and their families retain their places on NHS waiting lists when they move; closing gaps in childcare provision; and ending disadvantage in accessing schools places for service children.