Bruce sponsors bill to improve veteran's welfare and calls for assurances on cadet programme

12.00.00am GMT Wed 13th Jan 2010

Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce is today sponsoring a new Bill in the House of Commons which calls on the government to set in law a 'Code on Veterans Welfare' (the Veterans Covenant) This would set out a legal duty of care for UK veterans.   

Proposals within the 'Veterans Welfare Bill' include the Ministry of Defence (MoD) being legally obliged to ensure veterans' needs are properly assessed and their access to support monitored appropriately.  The Bill would require the MoD to coordinate welfare issues across government departments and the devolved administrations and would also require the Secretary of State for Defence to report annually to Parliament on veterans' welfare issues.

Commenting Mr Bruce said -

"Veterans' charities such as the Royal British Legion Scotland, the Army Benevolent Fund Scotland and Poppy Scotland are working tirelessly to ensure that veterans leaving the armed forces do not get lost in the system and that they get the care and support they need and deserve.

"However with ongoing operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere continuing to stretch our Armed Services we cannot rely on charities alone to provide this assistance.  

"Research shows that many service personnel are damaged by their service, often in ways that will not become apparent until after they have left the Forces. The Army Benevolent Fund Scotland suggests it is an average of 14 years before an applicant asks for help.

"The government has recognised through the Military Covenant that it has special responsibilities to people while they are in the armed forces.   The Veterans Welfare Bill is about ensuring that this duty of care continues after our men and women have left the armed services."

At the same time the Gordon MP is writing to Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth MP, to seek assurances over the future of army cadet groups in the North East. This follows information that the Ministry of Defence is to slash funding given to the army cadet programme. 

In response to a recent Parliamentary question tabled by the Liberal Democrats, the MoD revealed its plans to cut funding to army cadet programmes by 10% per year. 

The Army Cadet Force is one of the largest youth organisations in the country with more than 8,500 instructors and 45,000 members aged 12 to 18, and the MoD's own research shows that between 15 and 20 per cent of youngsters who train with the cadets go on to join the forces. With four detachments in the Gordon constituency in: Ellon, Huntly and Inverurie and Bridge of Don in Aberdeen, Mr Bruce has concerns that any cuts to the cadets could not only have an adverse effect on future recruitment to the armed forces but would be cutting back on a valued youth programme.

Mr Bruce added -

"We know in reality that budgets will be cut across government departments. The MoD is no exception to this but as the recent U-turn on the Territorial Army shows taking snap short-term decisions on easier targets is bound to have a deeper, long lasting and damaging effect.

"The MoD is aware that the army cadet force is highly valued by young people and is renowned in the North East for promoting discipline, achievement and good citizenship.

"By cutting the national budget the Government seems more concerned with saving a quick buck instead of training the next generation of soldiers."

ENDS