F e a t u r e s
The Armed Forces’ Constituency Matters. The Armed Forces’ constituency is larger than many people imagine – at its core are those currently serving and their immediate families, the volunteer reserve forces and the immediate families of those currently mobilised, veterans, and those receiving widows and widowers pensions. This is a total of over 5 million people. Extended families, regular reserves and cadets, the immediate families of veterans, and others, would bring the total to over 10 million. Formally acknowledging this fact for the first time, Government departments and, where appropriate, the Devolved Administrations will take account of the impact on the Armed Forces constituency and the strategic effect upon the Armed Forces when making policy or considering legislative proposals.
What is Being Done Already?
The Paper details a range of initiatives already introduced to enhance support to the military constituency, details can be found in Chapter 3 of the Paper.
Noted, But What will the Government do as a Direct Result of this Study?
The Paper details a wide range of initiatives enhancing support to Service personnel and their families. In many areas, the RAF Families Federation does not believe the recommendations go far enough and we will be keeping the pressure on to deliver more support in order to achieve the enduring principles which underpin this Paper. A summary of the key recommendations appears below but readers are advised to read the entire Paper if they wish to understand the
full scope of the proposals that have been signed up to. Again, feedback will be welcomed.
• Enhanced Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. The upfront lump sum payment for injury under the AFCS will be doubled for the most serious injuries. All recipients, according to severity of injury, will have an uplift of between 10 and 100% in their upfront lump sum payment.
• Retention of NHS Waiting List Position. When Service families move home, all things being equal, they will not lose their place on secondary care waiting lists across the UK.
• Dental Care. The Department of Health and other health departments will work to improve the provision of dentistry in key areas with high levels of Service families. Local health areas are encouraged to develop plans with local military communities.
• Extended Eligibility for Key Worker Living Scheme. Priority status has already been granted for serving personnel in England. However many do not purchase a home when they are still serving. Service leavers will now be entitled to a further one year’s assistance under the programme after they have left.
• Free Further or Higher Education. Personnel who serve more than 6 years will be entitled to free education when they leave.
• Concessionary Bus Travel. Free bus travel in England will be extended to include Service personnel and veterans under the age of 60 who were seriously injured in service.
Making Sure it Delivers
Progress will be assured by regular external and cross-Government audit. The External Reference Group, chaired by the Cabinet Office, will ensure that all Departments demonstrate progress against agreements. The Group will report annually to the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary and the report will be published.
Final Comment from the RAF FF
Clearly, the Government and Devolved Administrations must be allowed some time to allow implementation of these long-overdue proposals. We intend to monitor very closely the delivery of the Command Paper’s intent. If the staffs at MOD or in Other Government Departments fail to deliver, we will hold them to account – but we need your evidence to do so. Where provision is not made or where RAF family members still feel they are disadvantaged as a direct result of military service, you must give us the evidence and we promise to take that to the Ministers responsible for delivering this strategy.
www.raf-families-federation.org.uk
Autumn 2008
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