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Veterans plenary
Meeting of Veterans plenary - 28 March 2007
TRANSCRIPT OF OPEN FORUM WITH DEREK TWIGG MP, MINISTER FOR VETERANS, CHAIRED BY AIR VICE MARSHAL TONY STABLES, CHAIRMAN COBSEO
This transcript has been produced from an audio tape. Whilst it has been
edited for accuracy, any minor errors that remain are due to difficulties
with the sound recording.
Question 1:
[Tape did not pick up questioner’s name or first part of question which concerned veterans services in Australia]
….that the country can offer and its not the fact that they can have this it’s sort of, they feel that it’s in retribution of the service they have done and I feel that there are, it’s good to see what is being done but there is a lot more that could be done if you want to reciprocate the sort of services that other Commonwealth countries give to their veterans. The question slightly different was going to be for Mr Chris Williams and it’s this: if as you say you are providing the best military medical care possible and from your presentation it is obvious that you think there is nothing that can be done to improve it. Why are cadets at Sandhurst being persuaded and cadets at Sandhurst do what they’re told, they are being persuaded to sign up for BUPA medical insurance. I found my son recently checking that this was in-date prior to deploying through Iraq. Thank you.
Answer 1:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Actually, if you don’t mind I’ll take that because er it’s I have * responsibility for that. Could I just correct you one thing; we’re no saying it cannot be improved, what we are trying to set out is actually the sort of medical care that’s provided will stand up to the test of anywhere else round the world and it’s at least as good as anywhere else and the sort of things that are happening now, in terms of saving of lives that wouldn’t have happened a few years ago or in fact I will give you can actual case because it was probably put in the domain, was like Private McCullion whose amazing operations to save his hand which he would have lost a few years back was one of a small number that had taken place in the world and that’s the sort of innovation and skill that’s been put in place for our armed service personnel. Of course we can continue to improve it and that’s happening all the time and the * of military monies * , the improvements in skills and expertise for our military medical people working with the civilian medics as well is bringing about that sort of world class service and the fact is that Selly Oak is one of the best hospitals in Europe; it’s got high status, it’s got tremendous facilities and we intend to do that. Where we will probably be doing more for instance is around mental health and I think I mentioned that in particular during my speech in terms of how we can look at the more * help in * sadness, I’m sorry I’m not aware of that position; happy to look into it and see what the reason is behind that but I don’t know if you want to add any more to that Chris.
Mr Chris Williams, Director Medical Services Department Medical Finance and Secretariat
I don’t want to saying anything unkind about BUPA but I don’t think you’ll find them in a field hospital in Afghanistan. If you need a serious life-saving surgery you will need, he’s in very good hands. I hope he comes back entirely safely intact. If something does go wrong we’ll be there for him. That’s not BUPA’s partnership. No, I’m not. No we’re not, I’m not. No, can I tell you, can I just give it to that *
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
I’ll do it Chris. Look, I say I’m not aware that, we’re certainly not telling people to sign up the Ministry of Defence. We’ll investigate what’s actually happened there. One other thing I’d just like to say, I do actually get a bit irritated about this idea that sure the NHS isn’t providing in a world class or good enough care. It is, I mean I can give you case after case of Service personnel who have been looked after and helped in terms of NHS care. We are working in partnership with the NHS so we can get the best possible provision for our armed force personnel.
Air Vice Marshall Tony Stables, Chairman COBSEO
Can I just add on the part of the priority * for War Pensions, I mean there are clear guidelines in the NHS and interested as I was sat with a group of consultants in Leicester on Monday evening and they confirmed that actually, priority in their experience is given to veterans actually and that and they raised surprise when I told them actually of instances that I have come across where that hasn’t happened so I think by and large it does but it is incumbent upon the organisation that I chair, the Confederation, to keep, to monitor this to ensure that we bring it to the attention of the Minister and the Ministry of Defence where these issues aren’t, where these matters aren’t properly worked out. I think in respect of your observation about Australia, I would say that also that we are in discussion with the Veterans Policy Unit on a continual basis really about initiatives that we can take forward with the government and the Minister to the benefit of Veterans.
Can we just take from over here and then we’ll come to that one, one more on the left.
Q2:
Jacko, South Atlantic Medal Association
* * AVM, Minister, Jacko * South Atlantic Medal Association. Sorry to bore you over Policy but firstly may I welcome my friend Mr Guy Brewer who has been with the Veterans Policy Unit since it’s inception by the Prime Minister in 2001. Today we are * a member of the department of Work and Pensions which we haven’t had for the last three Veteran Plenary Forums. I work hard to try and make sure the DWP and Job Centre * are kept aware of problems with Veterans. Guy and myself had primary legislation overturned by statutory instruments in Parliament which gives our forces personnel the higher rates of Incapacity Benefit upon discharge now. The policy question I want to ask you today Sir is, a Veteran receives a Disability Supplement which overlaps with Incapacity Benefit is only entitled to a 52-week linking period in a work trial whereas somebody in receipt of Incapacity Benefit gets a 104-week linking period. When will the Veterans Policy Unit, the MOD and the DWP get together to bring this 104-week linking period for Veterans in receipt of * so they are not at a disadvantage when they want to get into the workplace.
A2: Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
Right thanks, thanks for that. A couple of things just as important. It is important in terms of the relations with Government departments about Veterans and Service personnel, how we support and treat them and I can say to you that I am very keen, with the Veterans minister and one of the reasons we’ve got, we had Rosie Winterton here today to get this sort of involvement with the government departments in this whole area and I hope you think that by our attendencies we are getting that attention and focus on the wider Veterans issues and of course I say, if I need to I will always talk to my colleagues in VWPU as well. I understand the change has been told to me, it’s April I think.
Jacko South Atlantic Medal Association
Yes within * * * * * * * * **. Will that be backdated to October or?
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
I don’t think so. I mean, I will look into the situation and come back to you but it states the change will be from April, from April yeah but I will look into it and come back to you. Can I just, sorry, sorry, could I say as well is that, happy of course if any of these issues, you’ll have to wait until the plenaries. You can also get in touch via my office if you have any particular issues that you want looking at during the year, OK.
Can we take from the right hand.
Q3:
Malcolm Bellwood Combat Stress
Malcolm Bellwood with combat stress. We’ve heard a couple of times now about the pilot studies to improve the lot of people with psychological problems in the future but that is probably at best a medium to long term solution and I would just like to point out there is a here and now problem as well in that we are receiving huge numbers of demand for our services without the resources really to deal with them and just to say that we are struggling slightly now to meet that demand whilst we accept that in the medium and long term things may be better, at the moment it’s not so.
A3: Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
Malcolm, how many cases have you got at the moment that people are waiting to be, for their assessments, how many cases have you got on this month?
Malcolm Bellwood Combat Stress
Well on an annual basis we’re receiving about almost a thousand requests for help. Some of those we can’t deal with, some of those eventually don’t want to be dealt with but we are converting about 650 individuals a year which, I suppose, is about whatever maths that makes.
Yeah.
But we are managing to see the first, for the first time for an assessment within about six weeks which is great. It’s then the subsequent treatment that’s the problem, that we can’t get to them as quickly as we would like.
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
Yeah, I mean * *, I mean as you know I visit Combat Stress and very impressed and want to put on record my thanks and appreciation for the work you do. You know we fund about £2.8 million I think it is in terms of the fees and support for you and you recall the £100,000 for Hollybush House in Scotland as well which we gave last year and I know the discussions are currently ongoing between officials, some of them are here today and yourselves in terms of the funding for next year. Obviously I’m taking a very close watch on that but I think the key thing is that we, this partnership * * you’ve got a very important role to play in taking forward a pilot’s views and as I said before we are looking as well at what other initiatives you might be able to take. Now I don’t want to give anyone this false hope at this state but hopefully we can do other things but that at this stage is being looked at.
Q3A:
Malcolm Bellwood Combat Stress
Thank you Sir and if I could make a supplementary. It was my privilege to visit the reservists mental health programme at Chilwell, a few weeks ago. A magnificent set up I have to say; what a shame that so few people are using it and if I could make just three observations. One is that from the people at Chilwell themselves seem to think that the publicity surrounding this programme isn’t what it could be. Secondly, by only accepting referrals from General Practitioners intending to restrict the referral system and thirdly, it being inside the wire that Chilwell doesn’t actually help the individuals to access that service.
A3A:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
As always, we take an issue but never quite get the complete and utter support on these things but I mean, I mean it was a major step forward and you know I was really pleased to be able to announce that last year and yeah there is, there are not maybe numbers that people thought there were and that’s another interesting argument as well but we’ve done a lot as you will sure know in terms of you know via our own systems, the MOD and * * * Veterans organisations and the Web site and so forth to publicise if there is anything more you can do we obviously welcome and it’s a key area for us but it actually, we have said as well, just to correct one thing, although it should normally be referral by GP, if a veteran, the reservists feels that they don’t want to go through the GP then we will accept of course, calls from them but I just want to make that clear.
Thank you sir. Just as if, it wasn’t meant as a
Mr Chris Williams, Director Medical Services Department Medical Finance and Secretariat
* * that point. Hopefully in the information * we’ll hear today there will be leaflets we can all take away which explains the Reservists mental health programme. It’s, as well as on the Army website I think, there is a free phone telephone number that you can use. We absolutely take referrals, not just from GPs but from individuals themselves or even third parties, a Commanding Officer, Reservist, friend, family member but when you actually come to the treatment you have to work in partnership with the NHS GP because what you absolutely would be doing a wrong thing by the * * is to start treating them for one condition that their own GP is unaware of, so it’s got to be, it will be an assessment by military mental heath nurses and a treatment pathway worked through with the GP which involves the defence medical delivery would be delivered by us in a military context, yes inside the wire because that was the message we were getting back, that people wouldn’t trust the NHS who “don’t know about Service life” they wanted to feel they were in a military environment where they would have that sort of, not just the trust but it’s with a common understanding of the practitioner, if you like, the other side of a couch and that’s what we were asked for so that’s what we’ve delivered so it is very accessible, they only get about, one telephone call or letter a day. Now, is that because communication is bad or is it actually because there actually aren’t that many people out there who are in trouble, not already getting assistance by their GPs, by the NHS, who feel the need to make the call. So, I mean I don’t know the answer but if you want to help get the message through to somebody who you believe has a problem, the information is somewhere in the folder on the table there today. Please do use it. We want to see people who need it using it.
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
Well, that was my final point actually, that it is a fantastic facility and that if people have members with problems that can be helped by the programme to give them that information. Thank you.
Thank you.
Can we go back over this side?
Q4:
James Houldsworth, Fylde ex-Service Liaison
Thank you. James Houldsworth, Fylde ex-Service Liaison. Minister, congratulations on the success of Veterans Week and I think this year there has been a tremendous explosion of interest in it and the question is: are we likely to see an explosion in the size of the fund to support it?
A4:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Can I dump that question for now? No, I mean clearly you know we decided this year to sort of take a different approach in terms of getting much more town and cities involved and that means obviously spreading the funding around a bit more but we’ve had a significant interest and as you rightly say it is growing all the time. We, of course we will always I’ll give you the politicians answer, keep this under review, we want to continue to ensure that Veterans Day is a success. It’s very early days yet, big connection this year with the Falklands of course 25th commemoration anniversary and again, any ideas or suggestions you have in terms of improving Veterans Day, we are open to that and will listen to it but let’s get all our efforts into making sure that this year that it’s a big success and that we spread the word in terms of how important Veterans are for us in society.
Q5:
John Hawthornthwaite, The Royal British Legion
John Hawthornthwaite. I’m in the Royal British Legion. Minister, Chairman, could I first of all say thank you to all the speakers who have heaped praise upon the Royal British Legion this morning. I am very grateful that we are being noticed. Minister, we’ve been told that you’re a little irritated that we are constantly sniping at the National Health Service. Could you therefore explain while the Royal British Legion has to spend £4 to 6 million a year filling the gaps.
A5:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Well, I’d welcome a and I don’t think * * an approach yet but I would certainly welcome a meeting with the Royal British Legion to talk about the detail of that £4-6 million and where the gaps are needing to be filled because that would be exactly the area that, for instance, Rosie Winterton and I would be able to discuss. But you know, let me be clear, I don’t accept that everything is rosy in the garden that I’m not bothered about our constituency MP as well and of course whether it’s a private hospital or NHS I’ve had complaints over the years and you have to deal with them so, you know, nothings perfect, I just want to make that clear. We noticed * as somehow we are abandoning our veterans to the NHS I think its just unacceptable. You know the NHS does a fantastic job for many, many of our veterans and in coordination often with our own military medical people and of course organisations like yourself and other veterans organisations provide support and welfare so I just wanted to make that point really, is that you know the cost of the issues and problems, happy to discuss them and see where we can improve that and sort it out as well but let’s not be drawn into the trap of suggesting that our veterans have been abandoned to the NHS which is just not true.
Q6:
Ray Bristow, National Gulf Veterans and Families Benevolent
Association
Well Minister Ray Bristow, National Gulf Veterans and Families Benevolent Association. Talking about the psychriatric, psychological problems. Two NHS examples, 1. I hope I never have to be another Gulf War Veteran. Second, was well you’ve made the choice to be in it that Iraqi soldier. Now Combat Stress do provide an excellent service, those in receipt of a War Pension is paid for by the War Pensions Agency. I’ve had excellent reports from veterans who’ve been there, however, there is a gap in that veterans who’ve got complicated medical problems and caring needs have been rejected because they are not able to deliver the other care. Also veterans who require treatment but also require treatment for drug abuse and alcohol problems are also turned away. There is another doctor who specialises in ex-forces personnel and does have a clinic, however, when applications are made to go to that place the funding is rejected by the War Pensions Agency and when we asked for an explanation as to the reason why, we’re told that um, the treatment is available on the NHS. Well, that doesn’t really add up because if that’s the case they wouldn’t be funding combat stress.
A6:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Yeah um, I knew Rosie Winterton alluded to during a speech, everything is not perfect in terms of mental health care in the NHS and needs a lot of resources being put in and I know there have been many developments in the last ten years in terms of treatment so she said in her speech, we’ve got to make further progress and got to make further improvements because it is patchy in different parts of the country and that’s one of the key reasons we want to get this pilot scheme up and running where this involvement with the NHS, ourselves and Combat Stress to try and ensure that we raise the profile and awareness in the NHS and among the medical practitioners and obviously share our expertise to be sure that the better account and better treatment is given for veterans and particularly taking account of the particular difficulties that some veterans encounter because their mental illness is related to service and that’s something that’s part of the process we’re looking at and as I say we are also looking at a number of other areas as well to see what we can do to improve the provision in terms of mental illness or veterans. Of course the combat stress you mentioned, well it’s because, you know as I said this is a partnership here between the public, the private and of course the voluntary sector in terms of providing the best possible support for our veterans and that’s something we think is a good model and we want to take forward. Can I say to you, is that another veterans agency and I know myself as the Minister, if there are specific issues we are having difficulty accessing treatment for a medical condition then we need to hear about it and we will see it’s investigated. I can’t always guarantee I’ll solve a problem but will certainly see what is happening and try and come to a solution but we need to know about the cases brought. Thank you for raising that here today.
Q7:
Alan Tizzard of the National Service Veterans Alliance
Good Morning Minister, Good Afternoon now isn’t it. Alan Tizzard of the National Service Veterans Alliance. In response to the advice that you gave to me at your Christmas bash, if you remember to write to you personally, I in fact wrote to yourself and your letter was passed to the Veterans Agency and the subject matter was that I had pursued the matter of the incomprehensible contradictory wording in the letters of reply from the Veterans Agency at Norcross to Service personnel who claim that their noise-induced hearing damage resulted from exposure to noise when in the Armed Forces. I am concerned that the 27 page claim form is too complicated for even the VA and their doctors to understand and administer. Finally Minister, the MOD, unlike the USA Veterans Agency does not take into account tinnitus which is also a direct result of noise-induced injury, why is this? Thank you Minister.
A7:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Well, can I just say first of all, I apologise if you, you’re right you did say, I remember talking to you and promised you a reply personally from me so I’m sorry the system fell down and I accept responsibility for that and I’m sure you did get a personal reply from me in terms of the issues that you raise in that letter. Can I just say about the Veterans Agency; I know you hear some criticism there but actually I went there a few weeks ago and I was listening to a number of telephone conversations with Veterans and I’ve got to say it was entirely complimentary and the staff were highly praised there for the work they do and the actual care and consideration and I understand there are issues in terms of hearing and that and I am happy to talk to outside of this meeting here today about those.
Q7A:
Alan Tizzard of the National Service Veterans Alliance
I think that * * and I’m not dissatisfied with the aim in general, I’m just saying this specific point.
A7A:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
I understand.
Air Vice Marshall Tony Stables, Chairman COBSEO
I should declare that in another hat I am a member of the Pension Appeal Tribunal and I think actually in respect of noise-induced hearing loss that there are a number certainly where appellants appeal before the tribunal who are seriously disadvantaged by the current ruling actually, particularly those that are high-tone deaf and I know that this is something which the confederation will be taking up with, with the Minister and the MOD in the future. Can we go right to the back there please?
Q8:
Steve Overton, North West War Pensions Committee
Steve Overton, North West War Pensions Committee. I’d just like to follow up John Hawthornthwaite’s point about the 47 million which the Royal British Legion has been spending last year. It’s not just the Defence Medical Services and the medical service in the NHS but very much the Local Authorities and the Social Services and we’re being now asked to fund a walk-in shower, stair lifts, riser-recliner chairs, all very expensive items throughout the ex-Service charities and the response from the Local authorities and Social Services, the local authorities refusing to act without the Social Services OP reports. They now give us 16 weeks if you’re lucky, to visit the person you referred and up to 30 weeks for those who are not lucky. Most of those people are incredibly in need and need emergency treatment right away and certainly all these aids; presumably the, your ministerial group is looking at this problem in order to save the charitable money which is considerable and putting it back to government funding by the NHS, the Social Services and the Local Authority funding basic items of equipment which people need to live.
A8:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Thanks for that. I mean one of the * to get some more information and details, particularly certain Local Authorities. I suspect it’s patchy around the country in terms of the support from different Local Authorities but yes, certainly something I can talk to my Ministerial colleagues about in terms of whether we can do anything to improve that situation but again the information or intelligence you’ve got would be very useful in terms of having a look at that.
Q9:
Peter Strachan, Aden Veterans Association
Peter Strachan, Aden Veterans Association. 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the withdrawal of Her Majesty’s Forces from Aden. Our Association members are very disappointed that for not being included in this year’s celebrations. Not only been not included but not mentioned. Tell me Minister, is Aden still an embarrassment to a Labour Government?
A9:Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
I’d certainly say it isn’t. I mean as part of the Veterans’ Day celebrations you’ll be involved. If you’ve not been involved I can assure you that I can change that right now and make sure you do get involved. So I’m sorry if that’s the case, I’m just surprised, so we do get our Veterans Policy people to talk to you that are here today and they certainly can give you an assurance that what you did and your Service and the difficulties you encountered there should be obviously remembered and be part of the Veterans’ Day celebrations.
Q10:
Derek Howard-Budd, SSAFA Forces Help
Minister, Derek Howard-Budd from SSAFA Forces Help. Taking on the point that Steve Overton has just made, there is a generalised view outside in Councils with DFGs, Disabled Facilities Grants, we have to raise lots and lots of money because councils generally will say to case workers, they are unable to provide the Disabled Facilities Grant and it might take up to two years to do so. This requires us, the Service charities, we will say we don’t want our clients to be disadvantaged by their age, generally. So we do actually raise this money. Generally, the only time we might get the facility outside, it’s said the charities will pay for it. If we go via your goodselves via the MPs surgeries, we sometimes can access that money fairly quickly but the Disabled Facilities Grants can be held back up to two years and we’ve go to do something about that. Thank you.
A10:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
OK thanks.
Q10A:
John Francis, BLESMA Area Welfare Officer South West
I think I’m going to highjack the mike on behalf of Stuart. I may have painted a rosy picture earlier on about the War Pensions Priority Treatment Directive. Cornwall is the exception to the rule and the reason I didn’t go to Combat Stress in Cornwall is, their response to that letter I sent them was exceptional. Dare I say the other ten of my 16 counties don’t have the same response. I am a member of the Welsh Assembly Government Veterans’ Forum and we there, recommended that a re-write and a re-issue of priority treatment for War Pensioners was put into being and that’s been done and the response from the membership I’ve got, there has been a real success. Could I possibly suggest that perhaps we in England need to do the same and re-issue the Directive, Priority Treatment to War Pensioners.
A10A:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Yeah. Can I say to you. Well first of all it’s great to see that I’ve got no bias towards any part of the Service but given that my father did his National Service in the Royal Artillery I’ve a slight soft spot for the Royal Artillery but we won’t go any further I think on that at the moment but can I just say to you is that part of the reason we’ve had meetings with both Rosie Winterton and also the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, along with the Secretary of State for Defence when he recently was to raise this specific issue about priority treatment and about raising awareness, within the Health Service, within GPs, within hospitals and Health Authorities and that’s something that is being done and we had a personal commitment from both Patricia Hewitt and Rosie Winterton as you heard again today, so you’re absolutely right to raise that, we are doing that and will continue to do, raise the awareness on a regular basis, not just as a one-off.
Q11:
Jim Panton, Poppy Scotland
Minister, Good Afternoon. Jim Panton from Poppy Scotland. If I may briefly just support the two comments I made in connection with mobility. Working closely with SSAFA in Scotland we have started a small trial initiative towards funding private occupational therapists who may speed-up the process that would enable um the requirement of aids meeting the needs of the beneficiaries sooner and so really that’s just a brief point in support of that other subject but my question is more relating to research. As part of our work in support of Veteran Scotland we have * * research of current, ongoing and future need amongst the ex-Service community * particular in Scotland in our case but it was encouraging to hear that there is some progress being made with regard to homelessness in the London area and on the assumption therefore that there is now a model that’s proven for researching homelessness, we were wondering if there was an update available in terms of plans for rolling out their research across the rest of the UK.
A11:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
Jim, thanks and nice to see you again and follow my visit up to Scotland last year. Housing, actually we haven’t really touched on and again as being a new Minister I claim now credit for this but there is a tremendous amount of work going on within the Ministry of Defence and in partnership and you know the Spaces Project has been mentioned before and of course a project at Colchester and Compass which we, sometimes we don’t often mention in our official Lines to Take with the Press on this. I actually met Compass recently and the work they’re doing in London with Ex Service personnel who are homeless and actually met them, a group of them, a few weeks back or a couple of months ago and actually tremendous in terms of what’s been put in there with that project and all the ex-Service personnel were also singing the praises of the project, singing the praises of the way they’ve got various people to partnership and work with that so a lot of work is going on as you rightly say, in terms of improving the situation; I understand there’s been a drop as well in terms of the number of ex-Service personnel in London at the moment. Clearly there’s more to do at it’s a priority for us but happy to research to show any research. With some research generally, I was quite amazed by the amount when I came into the family and our research has been * *. There was a question I think last year that asked the Department to list the amounts of research it’s undertaken in a variety of areas and I mentioned just a few in my speech but it is actually a great amount of work being done by the Department on research on various areas in terms of Service personnel and in terms of health, housing and welfare and other issues and I think it just underlines that there is a commitment there to actually find out and root out what the problems are and particularly in terms of looking forward and a again, research is available and should be shared and if anyone’s got any particular issue around research by all means get in touch with the Veterans Policy Unit.
For a last question.
Q12:
James Houldsworth, Fylde Ex-Service Liaison
Minister, it was really just to confirm some of the comments from the previous speakers. Sorry, James Holdsworth, Fylde Ex-Service Liaison but with my other hat on I am a councillor from the North West and I can confirm that, Yes it is taking up to two years for adaptations to people’s homes in the North West and not only that, that the Social Service front line people are actually canvassing people to say, do you have any connections with Ex Military and if so you’d probably be better going through that charity. So it is a constant drain on the Service charities.
A12:
Derek Twigg MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister
for Veterans
