Tuesday, October 15, 2024

This is an ARCHIVED article at baff.org.uk. Information and/or links may well be out of date.

The Daily Telegraph reports that servicemen who have been seriously injured while on duty will be given free bus passes for life under a series of measures designed to enshrine the Military Covenant in law:

Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, yesterday told the House of Commons that the country had an "enormous" obligation to honour the "commitment and sacrifice" of its military personnel.

For the first time, that obligation will be put on a statutory footing with a number of measures, introduced through the Armed Forces Bill, to ensure fair and proper treatment for those who risk their lives for Britain.

As well as free bus passes for seriously wounded veterans, including amputees and those with head injuries, £3 million will be spent on providing extra teachers or tutors for schools with a large number of children from service families.

Men who have suffered genital injuries will be given three free courses of IVF treatment funded by the NHS; troops on operations will get a 50 per cent rebate on council tax, up from a 25 per cent rebate; and a "Veterans' Card" will be given to all serving and former military personnel giving a discount at a variety of shops and sports events.

Councils will also be ordered to prioritise soldiers, sailors and airmen for housing. ...