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Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Wednesday Volume 503 13 January 2010 No. 23 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 13 January 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 669 13 JANUARY 2010 670 Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): House of Commons Will my right hon. Friend raise the question of psychological and psychiatric services in particular, because cases that Wednesday 13 January 2010 have come to me recently have highlighted serious deficiencies? Although I commend the work of Combat Stress in Hollybush House in the constituency of my The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock hon. Friend the Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Sandra Osborne), it is a voluntary charitable organisation PRAYERS that is taking up much of the strain that is sadly not being taken up by the psychiatric services offered to our troops on their return from combat. [MR.SPEAKER in the Chair] Mr. Murphy: My hon. Friend is right to talk about the need for continuing support as people prepare to BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS return from theatre and at the point at which they arrive. I had the great honour of meeting some of our LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES BILL [LORDS] (BY soldiers as they returned from theatre in Afghanistan ORDER) and they talked about the need for continued and Motion made, That the Bill be read a Second time. ongoing support. That includes support not just with housing but with dental care and health care, including Hon. Members: Object. mental health treatment, both in-patient and out-patient. Bill to be read a Second time on Wednesday 20 January. I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and the veterans Minister have considered this matter very carefully and if my hon. Friend has any specific suggestions about how the situation could be Oral Answers to Questions improved, I am sure that they will listen with great care. Sir Menzies Campbell (North-East Fife) (LD): Does the Secretary of State understand the contribution that SCOTLAND is made to morale by the knowledge that outstanding medical services are available in Selly Oak hospital and, of course, at the rehabilitation centre at Headley Court. The Secretary of State was asked— If he has not yet visited either the hospital or the rehabilitation centre, may I urge him to do so? He will Armed Forces (Morale) see at first hand the courage of the patients and the skill of the staff. 1. Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Mr. Murphy: The right hon. and learned Gentleman Defence on the morale of members of the armed forces is absolutely right about the remarkable dedication of based in Scotland returning from active service. the staff, of which we have all heard. I have not yet had [309549] the honour of visiting; I do not know whether that was an invitation—it was an invitation by proxy, I think—but The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): I would happily accept it. We all know by repute of the Good morning, Mr. Speaker. The men and women of remarkable conviction of those men and women who our armed forces are remarkable people and I have care for our heroes on their return, which is why we have regular conversations with ministerial colleagues about increased the investment in those medical facilities. We support for our armed forces and their families. are determined to do more whenever we possibly can. Mr. Ben Wallace (Lancaster and Wyre) (Con): Good Bob Spink: I thank the Secretary of State for that morning, Mr. Speaker. Many veterans returning from response, with which I totally agree, and for his good active service suffer from mental problems and, work in Scotland. Does he agree that people in Scotland unfortunately, some of them end up in custody. Recently, want to see our returning heroes—and particularly the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence those with families—treated with dignity? That means have started a process of identifying veterans in custody that they should be given priority in housing and should in England and Wales in order to ensure that they are not be made homeless, which is what happens at the matched with the appropriate support agency, such as moment in Castle Point. the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress. Given that prisons are a devolved issue but defence and looking Mr. Murphy: I agree with the sentiment behind the after veterans are not, will the Secretary of State seek to hon. Gentleman’s question. Although I do not know use his offices to ensure that the Scottish Government the details, I am sure that he understands that when it play their part in trying to ensure that our veterans in comes to situations such as that in Castle Point, whether custody are looked after and given the support that they they arise north or south of the border, we need to deserve? handle our returning heroes with great care and sensitivity, including when it comes to issues relating to housing. Mr. Murphy: The hon. Gentleman served with distinction Local connections to local areas should be properly in the armed forces, in the Scots Guards, so he will taken into account, and if that is not happening in know that it is always important that we should look to Castle Point, I think that most of the hon. Gentleman’s see what more we can do. That is why we have specific constituents would consider that to be shabby. programmes to help those ex-servicemen and women 671 Oral Answers13 JANUARY 2010 Oral Answers 672 who are unemployed and it is also why we are developing Angus Robertson (Moray) (SNP): The Royal United Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice-specific Services Institute today said that there is likely to be a programmes to help those who are coming out of 20 per cent. cut in service personnel in the years ahead. prison. If there is a gap—I do not want to make that That would mean fewer service personnel in Scotland assertion—and if there are lessons to be learned north than in the Irish Republic. Is that good for morale, and south of the border, I will happily convene conversations given that there have been more than 10,000 defence job and meetings between the Royal British Legion north cuts in Scotland since Labour came to power and a and south of the border, ourselves and Scottish Government defence underspend of more than £4.3 billion in recent officials to ensure that we can learn lessons from one years? another and to ensure that those ex-service personnel who have unfortunately found themselves in prison get Mr. Murphy: There are currently 12,000 members of, the proper support to which they are entitled. and 6,000 civilians working in, the armed forces in Scotland. I do not agree with today’s assessment on the Mr. Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD): percentage reductions in the armed forces, but what is Will the Secretary of State join me in commending the absolutely clear is that were the hon. Gentleman’s party work of the Royal British Legion Scotland, the Army in power and were it to have its way and have Scotland Benevolent Fund in Scotland, Poppyscotland and others separated from the United Kingdom, there would be a for the work that they do in supporting those who have 100 per cent. cut in the armed forces, because there served our country in the armed forces? Those organisations would be no Royal Navy, no Royal Air Force, no British bring to our attention time and again the fact that many Army and no shipbuilding for aircraft carriers on the ex-servicemen fall through the net in Scotland. Will the Clyde. We have enormous respect for our armed forces, Secretary of State, using his offices as a clearing house north and south of the border, and we laugh with for communications between the Governments here contempt at his ludicrous arguments. and in Edinburgh, see whether he can do more to ensure that that situation improves? Cross-Border Transport Mr. Murphy: In the spirit of the hon. Gentleman’s 2. Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): What suggestion, I am happy to do whatever I can to assist. recent discussions he has had with Scottish Executive He is absolutely right about the work of the British Ministers on the resilience of cross-border transport Legion and of other charities across Scotland and the links to extreme weather conditions. [309550] UK. There is enormous public affection in Scotland and across the UK, and immeasurable public respect, The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): for our heroic men and women returning from this and The Department for Transport and the devolved previous wars, and public collections on Remembrance Administrations, including the Scottish Government, day continue to grow the further we get from the second have been regularly monitoring salt supplies and stock world war. However, it is incumbent on us all to bear in levels across Great Britain with the help of agencies, mind that remembrance is not a one-day event, but an local authorities and companies that supply salt.
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