MP supports Parliamentary move for better deal for armed forces

Mike Hancock, MP (Lib Dem – Portsmouth South) is backing a call in Parliament today (Wednesday, 12 December 2007) for the Government to renew the “Military Covenant” and improve the treatment received by armed forces.

Mike is a member of the Defence Select Committee and his constituency, Portsmouth South contains the Naval dockyard. The Lib Dems have forced a parliamentary debate on the issue of the Military Covenant as one of their “opposition days”. The Lib Dem motion:

“urges the Government to do more to honour its duty of care, notably through accelerating the improvement and upgrading of service accommodation, providing greater provisions for mental health and medical care for service personnel, ring-fencing the defence budget for welfare and introducing a Coroners Bill to help address delays in inquests into military fatalities; and calls on the Government to renew the Military Covenant and set up a cross-party Military Covenant Committee to monitor the state of the armed forces and their welfare.”

Mike said: “I believe the time has come for us to have a new military covenant that ensures politicians honour our debt to the armed forces. The members of our armed forces give their utmost to their country and are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. There is no excuse for being cheap when dealing with their welfare.

“The Liberal Democrats have forced a debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday on armed forces welfare as we believe this is a crucial and urgent issue. Service personnel put their lives on the line for us – the least we can do is that ensure that they have very good quality accommodation, and the best possible medical care and welfare support. I will be backing our proposals when they are put to the vote. I hope Labour and Conservative MPs from our area will be too.”

“For decades British governments, both Labour and Conservative, unfortunately have failed to invest in fair treatment for our troops and they are at breaking point. Poor quality accommodation, inadequate care, and critical overstretch are just some of the ways they are being let down.

“As Chancellor, Gordon Brown cut the armed forces’ accommodation budget. The last Conservative Government is also to blame for the shoddy housing, faulty equipment and inadequate medical care that our troops deal with.” The parliamentary move follows the publication by the Lib Dems of ‘Our Nation’s Duty’, an action plan for improving armed forces welfare, including the upgrading of service accommodation and improved medical care and counselling. Full paper can be obtained from: www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/parliament/Our_Nations_Duty_Dec07.pdf

The Liberal Democrat action plan includes –
• A new Strategic Defence Review that takes account of the new international situation
• An assurance from politicians that the armed forces will not intervene without providing necessary resources, manpower and equipment that ensures our personnel are secure in the commitment
• A parliamentary committee to conduct an annual review of the state of the covenant
• A ring-fenced budget for welfare and accommodation within the Defence Budget
• Improved medical care and counselling for troops returning from service
• Further funding to allow all armed forces accommodation to be assessed at the highest standard

Notes:

The full Lib Dem motion reads: “That this House notes the commitment, bravery and professionalism of the UK’s armed forces in operations around the world; further notes with concern the detrimental impact that sustained operations on two fronts are having on the armed forces and their capabilities, resulting in critical overstretch; believes that the Government should conduct a new strategic defence review and reinforce it with regular reviews of defence after each general election; urges the Government to do more to honour its duty of care, notably through accelerating the improvement and upgrading of service accommodation, providing greater provisions for mental health and medical care for service personnel, ring-fencing the defence budget for welfare and introducing a Coroners Bill to help address delays in inquests into military fatalities; and calls on the Government to renew the Military Covenant and set up a cross-party Military Covenant Committee to monitor the state of the armed forces and their welfare.”