Veterans Issues
Veterans programme
Veterans programme
Veterans affairs secretariat
Veterans working arrangements
Veterans task force
Veterans forum
Veterans plenary
Minister's speeches
Veterans forum
Minutes of the Veterans Forum Meeting held in the Victory Services Club on 05 March 2003
Annex A. Progress
made by Working Groups.
Annex B. Comments by Chairman
COBSEO.
Annex C. DCMS Speaking Notes.
Annex D. Update from Scottish
Executive.
Annex E. Update from National
Assembly for Wales.
Annex F. Update from Northern
Ireland Executive.
Annex E To
D/SPP(P&V)/7/5
Dated 18 March 2003
MEETING OF THE VETERANS FORUM, 5 MARCH 2003 - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
Homelessness Legislation
In March 2001 the National Assembly introduced the Homeless Persons (Priority Need) (Wales) Order, which extended the protection of homelessness legislation to former members of the armed services who have been homeless since leaving those services. This means that local authorities now have duties to secure suitable accommodation for people in that category.
The Homelessness Act 2002 is now fully in effect in Wales. This legislation requires local authorities to carry out reviews of homelessness in their areas, and formulate strategies for preventing and tackling homelessness in their areas.
The Assembly Government is finalising statutory guidance for local authorities on the above legislation, which will stress the importance of authorities in working to prevent homelessness amongst service veterans, and taking account of their needs when planning the provision of services.
In addition, the Assembly Government is preparing a national homelessness strategy which will set out how the Assembly will develop its policy and support local initiatives to reduce homelessness. This strategy will address the specific circumstances and resettlement needs of service veterans in Wales.
Concessionary Fares for war pensioners below 65 and with a disability of over 20 per cent
From 1 April this year men and women aged 60 and over will be entitled to free travel on local bus services throughout Wales (and, where agreed by the local authority, a reasonable distance into England on cross-border journeys). Disabled people of any age have been entitled to this concession since 1 April 2002.
Our Ministers have accepted the principle that this concession should be extended to (unconventional) community transport services, but have made it clear that this will depend on sufficient resources. There is no timetable for that measure, but we anticipate that there will continue to be pressure for it to be implemented.
As far as the existing (and soon to be extended) scheme on local buses is concerned, the categories of disability are set out in the guidance we have issued to local authorities. In summary they are:
- Persons who are blind or partially sighted
- Persons who are profoundly or severely deaf
- Persons without speech
- Persons who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to walk
- Persons who do not have arms, or who have long-term loss of use of both arms
- Persons who have a learning disability - i.e. a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
- Persons who would, if he or she applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle, have his or her application refused other than on the grounds of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol
As far as any person whose age is 60 or over will be eligible for free travel on local buses from 1 April 2003. All persons who satisfy their local authority that they are eligible by virtue of a disability (as above) are already eligible, whatever their age. (There is no appeal mechanism to the Assembly.)
The existing legislation allows Ministers to extend the scheme to other groups of persons, for example War Disability Pensioners (under 60) whose disablement ranges from 20% (or another percentage) upwards. Regulations would be required to achieve this.
Although Ministers have not expressed (or been asked to express) a view about extending the scheme to War Pensioners, I would have thought that Ministers (and the Assembly generally) would be sympathetic. However, as these schemes are administered by local authorities, they (the authorities) would need to be satisfied that the Assembly would be providing the extra funding such an extension would require.
As next year's provision to local authorities for the scheme will be £33m, based on the estimate of £45,000 (and that would be for persons over 65), the sum appears modest overall.
Ministers are considering the scope that exists - subject to consultation within Wales, and adequate funding - for extending the scheme to include War Pensioners aged less than 60 resident in Wales whose disability ranges from 20% and upwards.On the specific issue of travel by train, Ministers have not given any undertaking to extend the existing scheme to trains. However, I understand that bidders for the Wales and Borders franchise have been asked to suggest ways of implementing free travel by elderly people. If this possibility were pursued, the Train Operating Companies would clearly expect not to incur extra costs without some form of reimbursement.
Letter sent to all NHS Trusts and Local Health Boards
REFERENCE: PRIORITY TREATMENT FOR WAR PENSIONERS AND THE VETERANS AGENCY
Introduction
The present War Pensions Scheme had its origin pre Welfare State and in the early days the Scheme included provision for treatment of service related disablement. In the 1950s, following the establishment of the National Health Service, Ministry of Pensions Hospitals were absorbed into the NHS and the system of Priority Treatments for War Pensioners was set up. Under this provision, war pensioners are entitled to priority treatment for their accepted disablement, dependent on clinical needs as determined by the clinician in charge. Guidance on this matter was last issued to the NHS in Wales in February 1995.
In March 2002 the War Pensions Agency was renamed The Veterans Agency and its role expanded to take on wider responsibilities for support to Service Personnel throughout their lives.
Action
It is now felt to be appropriate to re-issue guidance in light of the restructuring of NHS in Wales and the fact that many current NHS staff have little or no awareness of the War Pensions Scheme or Priority Treatment.
The enclosed briefing pack provides
- Information on the War Pensions Scheme and War Pensioners Welfare Scheme
- A copy of an article on illness/injury in the Armed Forces relating to the War Pensions Scheme published in 'Pulse' in March 2001
- A copy of WPA booklet which includes useful contact details
Chief Executives of Trusts and Local Health Boards are asked to bring the enclosed information to the notice of appropriate clinical staff within their organisations.
Anne Lloyd
Director
NHS Wales Department
