Welsh Conservatives announce enhanced support package for armed forces community

Veterans, and Wales’ armed forces community, will be given the support they deserve under a Welsh Conservative Government.

The Party have unveiled an ambitious policy platform which will better recognise the immense sacrifice, and contribution, Wales’ armed forces community makes to the nation.

The introduction of an Armed Forces and Veterans Commissioner, accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, heads-up the proposals. The individual, and their office, would be responsible for championing the needs of the armed forces community, and ensuring devolved levers are utilised to offer necessary support.

A dedicated Veteran’s Card would also be introduced by a Welsh Conservative Government, which would provide entitlement to free bus travel, relevant home adaptation needed as a consequence of in-service injury or illness, and promote benefits such as the availability of priority NHS treatment.

Free access to leisure centres and Cadw sites would also be available, via the Veteran’s Card.

As part of a wide-ranging package, Welsh Conservatives would introduce a veteran’s needs assessment as a basis for delivering services. A duty would also be placed on Local Authorities to protect war memorials, whilst the capacity of the NHS to deal with veterans’ mental health issues, such as PTSD, would be enhanced, via increased funding levels.

Furthermore, the Party would act to ensure no veteran has their War Disablement Pension taken from them, when accessing social care. Presently, those injured on or before 5 April 2005 are not protected, and can lose compensation to social care payments, a process dubbed “deeply unfair” by Welsh Conservatives.

Welsh Conservative leader, and South Wales Central candidate, Andrew RT Davies, said:

“We must pay tribute to the immense sacrifice and commitment of those who have served in our Armed Forces, and the Welsh Government has a moral obligation to play its role in offering all available support.

“Welsh Conservatives have long pressurised Government Ministers to offer a better deal to veterans, and the recent implementation of free swimming followed years of campaigning from our Party.

“A Veteran’s Card is a vital next step, offering a series of benefits for service personnel and veterans in recognition of their service.

“A dedicated Commissioner could play a critical role in championing the specific needs of the armed forces community and ensuring the next Welsh Government offers all necessary support; whilst we would ensure that no veteran has their War Disablement Pension taken from them when accessing social care, addressing a deeply unfair anomaly.

“The announcement of this policy package follows the UK Government recently providing £500,000 to CAIS Wales Change Step Veteran Services, which works across Wales. That funding will deliver a new referral pathway for 800 veterans including tailored peer support and specialist intervention. Two Conservative Governments working either side of the M4 can really deliver for Wales’ veterans.”

Mark Isherwood, spokesperson for matters pertaining to the Armed Forces, said:

“Men and women, who have served their country with distinction, deserve the best help that can be provided when they return to civilian life.

“By working more closely with the third sector to support those seeking help for problems encountered as a result of military service and to increase the availability of supported accommodation for vulnerable veterans, by delivering new benefits to veterans, and by better supporting current packages, Welsh Conservatives will ensure society in Wales is better able to offer our armed forces community the support it needs.

“Re-integration can be a difficult process for many service personnel and their families. The next Welsh Government must prioritise support for them by fully utilising the devolved levers it has. We must offer a better deal to Wales’ hundreds of thousands of veterans.”

A Welsh Conservative Government will:

• Introduce an Armed Forces and Veterans Commissioner, accountable to the National Assembly, championing the needs of the armed forces community and ensuring devolved powers are used to offer necessary support.
• Establish a Veteran’s Card including free bus travel, priority access to NHS treatment and relevant home adaptation needed as result of in-service injury or illness, plus free access to leisure centres and Cadw sites.
• Introduce a veteran’s needs assessment as the basis for delivering services.
• Ensure no veteran has their War Disablement Pension taken from them when they access social care.
• Ensure that the health needs of veterans are met via an Armed Forces NHS Covenant.
• Increase funding for the Veterans’ NHS Wales service, enhancing its capacity to help those with mental health issues, such as PTSD.
• Work with partners to improve rehabilitation for veterans in the criminal justice system.
• Work with the third sector to increase the availability of supported accommodation for vulnerable veterans.
• Place a duty on local authorities to ensure the maintenance of war memorials.