Ministerial Committee To Uphold Covenant Pledges
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor.
Date: 01 January 2012
A Ministerial Committee to ensure that the Government delivers promises made under the Armed Forces Covenant will be set up as part of a cross-Government effort to keep the interests of Service Personnel at the heart of the nation.
The committee, led by Oliver Letwin, Minister for Government Policy, will oversee this work and ensure that momentum is maintained. In December 2011, the Prime Minister announced his intention to be personally involved; he will chair the inaugural meeting of the committee this year.
Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond confirmed the arrangements already announced by David Cameron earlier in the week as he delivered an interim report on the Armed Forces Covenant to Parliament today. The report outlines the progress the Government has made on upholding previous pledges the Government made in May 2010 as part of its desire to repair the Armed Forces Covenant.
The new committee will work closely with the Covenant Reference Group which is made up of charities and families federations to raise issues on behalf of Service Personnel, their families and veterans.
"I will make sure that we deliver."
Prime Minister David Cameron has publicly said: "Our Armed Forces do so much to keep us safe. That's why this government has enshrined the Military Covenant in law. This new Committee is about doing more to make the Covenant work - making sure that throughout their daily lives our troops, their families and veterans get all the help and support they need and in the coming year, I will make sure that we deliver."
So the eyes of the nation will be watching that he does deliver, because it is long overdue for our military, especially the veterans.
Not Disadvantaged
The interim report also outlines additional areas of work being undertaken to ensure military personnel are not disadvantaged by the service of their country.
This interim report is additional to the legal requirement placed on the Defence Secretary to deliver an annual Armed Forces Covenant Report. This statutory requirement, which was enshrined in law by the Armed Forces Act, will come into effect next year.
Fulfilling The Pledges
Since May 2010, the Government has attempted to fulfil a number of pledges made to repair the Military Covenant, including:
The doubling of the tax free Operational Allowance;
Improving Rest and Recuperation leave for those on operations;
Endorsed the proposals for improving mental health care and provision of prosthetics;
Delivered a scheme to provide scholarships to bereaved Service children;
Delivered more help for those leaving the Services to go on to higher/further education;
Introduced the Pupil Premium for the children of those currently serving currently £200 per child, rising to £250 in 2012-13.) in addition, we have provided further funding of £3M per year for state schools with Service children (including those of reservists), to help offset the impact of deployed service;
Announced a Community Covenant scheme supported by a £30m Community Covenant fund - nearly £1m of funding was released after the first batch of bids were received in September;
Doubled Council Tax Relief for those on eligible operations overseas.
Working with Credit Reference Agencies to ensure Service people are not disadvantaged by mobility requirements in accessing credit.
Delivery of Services
The full Armed Forces Covenant report will consider the delivery of services to our Armed Forces in the areas of housing, education and healthcare and the operation of inquests, as well as other areas that the Secretary of State judges to be appropriate. The Department is also required to consider where Service Personnel may be disadvantaged in accessing public and commercial products and where special treatment may be justified and set out his response to these issues.
The interim Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report has been compiled in consultation with the Covenant Reference Group, which is made up of officials across Government, Service charities and Families Federations. The Government has committed itself to publishing, alongside the annual report, any observations which the external members of the group might have.
