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Support for veterans
17/07/2008
Actions the Scottish Government has taken, and will take, to support the armed service personnel and veterans were outlined today.
Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said that Scotland owes a debt to its service personnel and to her veterans.
The paper was published as Mr Crawford took part in the joint launch of the MoD's Service Command Paper with UK Defence Minister Derek Twigg at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.
The Scottish Government's paper - Meeting Our Commitment - develops the proposals within the Command Paper in relation to Scotland's devolved responsibilities to improve the quality of life for Service personnel, their families and for veterans.
Mr Crawford said:
"The brave men and women who put their lives on the line for their country deserve our gratitude and our recognition. But they and their families also deserve our help in overcoming barriers to access and use key services, and improving their quality of life.
"The commitment paper the Scottish Government are publishing contains a range of measures we are delivering in devolved areas such as health, housing and transport services, as a key part of our ongoing efforts to improve the day to day lives of our service personnel, past and present, and their families in Scotland.
"This is an objective shared with the UK Government and other devolved administrations, and I am delighted to support the package of measures outlined in the MoD's Service Command Paper.
"We are committed to working in partnership with Scotland's veterans' organisations and others to deliver the very best support possible.
"I am very encouraged that the veterans' community has welcomed our partnership approach - and the doubling of the Scottish Government's Scottish Veterans Fund from £40,000 to £80,000 in each of the next three years."
The Scottish Government's consultation, 'Scotland's Veterans and Forces' Communities: Meeting Their Well-being and Welfare Needs' was launched by Sir Alistair Irwin, President of Veterans Scotland at a reception in the Scottish Parliament on June 26, 2008. The consultation will run until August 29,2008.
Earlier this week, Bruce Crawford met with representatives of veterans' organisations in Edinburgh and announced a doubling of funding to their organisations through The Scottish Veterans Fund - from £40,000 to £80,000 - in each of the next three years.