Crabb Welcomes New Commission On The Military Covenant

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb will spend twenty two days this year attached to the Royal Marines through the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, to learn more about the current challenges facing this branch of the Armed Forces and the burdens on their families.

 

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by ORR

March 21, 2008

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has welcomed the Conservative leader David Cameron’s promise to restore the public bond of trust with the Armed Forces.

The Conservative leader announced on 5th March that a new commission is to look at ways to improve the treatment of service personnel and their families.

Frederick Forsyth, the author of ‘Day of the Jackal’, will chair the Tories' Military Covenant Commission, whose members include Simon Weston, a former soldier badly burned in the Falklands conflict, and numerous retired senior military figures.

The Military Covenant is the name given to the understanding between the nation and service personnel and their families who make personal sacrifices in return for fair treatment and decent conditions of service.

Stephen has recently received nearly a hundred letters from constituents backing the Royal British Legion’s Covenant Campaign, which urges people across the country to lobby their MPs to restore the Covenant and improve conditions for the Service community in the areas of care, compensation and coroners' inquests.

At a time of huge pressure on the military as a result of multiple commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and in other parts of the world, Stephen has been building closer links with local families who have sons or daughters serving in the forces.

He will also spend twenty two days this year attached to the Royal Marines through the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme to learn more about the current challenges facing this branch of the Armed Forces and the burdens on their families. Stephen will use a number of weekends and block weeks staggered over the next year to accompany the Royal Marines on training exercises and will visit 45 Commando Unit later in the year when it deploys to Afghanistan.

Stephen said: “There is now widespread agreement that servicemen and women are shouldering enormous burdens due to the increasing operational demands being placed on them. The soldiers and marines I have met with recently are concerned about a wide range of issues like the reduced time they are getting with their families, uncertainties over compensation for injuries in battle and the challenge of finding housing on leaving the Forces.”

“When people sign up to join the Armed Forces they show that they are prepared to put their life on the line for their country. In return they should be certain that they and their families will be looked after appropriately.”

“Charities such as the British Legion have done tremendous work to fill the gap, but it’s time that politicians of all parties recognise the duty of care that this nation owes to those who are serving our country.

“I hope this new Commission will come up with new practical recommendations that will lead to a real improvement in the quality of life for all those who are serving in the Forces.”