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The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan MP, today paid tribute to staff working in support of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan during a visit to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) at Imjin Barracks, near Gloucester .

The Minister first visited the Agency’s Medal Office which over the last year has issued some 44,000 medals to Service personnel and veterans.  He saw first hand the research necessary to confirm entitlement, as well as the preparation, engraving, cleaning and despatch of medals to their rightful recipients. He was especially interested in the work undertaken to prepare and issue the Elizabeth Cross, which is granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces personnel killed on operations, or as a result of terrorism, in a mark of national recognition for their loss.

The Minister then moved on to see the SPVA’s Joint Casualty & Compassionate Centre (JCCC) and talked to personnel dealing with some of the 90,000 calls the centre receives each year.  The JCCC’s operations room receives information on all UK Armed Forces casualties (both injuries and deaths) from around the world, including operations in Afghanistan , and ensures the families of those involved are quickly informed and offered appropriate support.  Where death has occurred JCCC staff also support the families of those involved by providing advice on funeral entitlements, arranging the marking of Service graves and assisting the executor with resolution of the deceased’s estate. 

Mr Robathan also saw how the JCCC authorises and arranges immediate travel back to the UK for servicemen and women in the event of a family crisis such as the sudden hospitalisation of an immediate family member.

Later, he visited the JCCC’s Commemorations team.  This specialist group arranges the tracing of families, repatriation and appropriate funeral services following the discovery of the remains of UK Service personnel on battlefields and aircraft crash sites around the world, often dating back to World War I and beyond.

The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Andrew Robathan said:

 “It has been extremely interesting to see the important work that staff at Imjin barracks undertake in support of our Armed Forces.  Our Service personnel have a very difficult and demanding job to do.  Those serving in Afghanistan, and on other operations around the world, can have confidence in knowing that whenever needed, the dedicated and professional team here in Gloucester will provide the support and recognition they and their families deserve.”

Air Commodore Chris Bray OBE MBE, SPVA’s Head of Military Operations and Development, who hosted the Minister and briefed him on the Agency’s work during his visit said:

“SPVA welcomed the opportunity to show the Min ister our vital work in support of operations during his visit to Imjin Barracks today. We were delighted he was able to take time out of his busy schedule to see what we do for our Armed Forces and to recognise the difficult challenges our staff sometimes face”.

Ends

Notes to editors

Images:

(1) Andrew Robathan MP (right) and Lt Col (Rtd) Peter Lockyear watch a medal being engraved.

(2) Lt Col (Rtd) Peter Lockyear (Left) with Andrew Robathan MP (right) at the SPVA Medal Office at Imjin Barracks.

About SPVA

1. The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency is an Agency of the Ministry of Defence and provides essential support functions to the Armed Forces and veterans communities.  These include forces pay and HR, issue of all medals, casualty repatriation and compassionate services, pensions, injury/bereavement compensation and veterans welfare support.  The Agency operates from four main UK sites at Glasgow, Norcross near Blackpool, Imjin Barracks near Gloucester and HMS Sultan, Gosport .
2. Veterans can obtain information about entitlement to medals from SPVA’s free veterans helpline on 0800 169 2277.

About Andrew Robathan MP

3. Born in 1951 Mr Robathan was educated at Merchants Taylors’ School, Northwood and Oriel College Oxford.  He served in the Coldstream Guards from 1974 to 1989 before leaving to pursue a career in politics. He served throughout the world and attended the Army Staff College , Camberley. Mr Robathan volunteered to rejoin the Army, January - April 1991, and served as Chief of Staff of the Prisoner of War Guard Force in Saudi Arabia , Iraq and Kuwait .

For Further Information

For further information, please contact the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency press office: David Johnson on 07717 882014 or Sian Gausden 01452 712612 Ext 6726.