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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014

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Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2011 THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT ANNUAL REPORT 2014 Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2011 The Armed Forces Covenant An Enduring Covenant Between The People of the United Kingdom Her Majesty’s Government – and – All those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown And their Families The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment. Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved. This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant. CONTENTS Foreword 3 Executive Summary 6 Observations 9 Chapter 1 - Healthcare 18 Chapter 2 - Education 25 Chapter 3 - Housing 32 Chapter 4 - Inquests 41 Chapter 5 - Through Life 44 Table of Commitments 65 Corporate Covenant Pledges 70 Successful LIBOR Fund Bids 74 The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 1 Armed Forces Covenant Corporate Covenant Community Covenant 2 The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 FOREWORD By the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence This is my first annual report since becoming Defence Secretary in July 2014 and is the third to be published since the Armed Forces Act 2011 came into force, requiring the Secretary of State to report to Parliament each year. When I joined the Department in July I was immediately struck by the dedication and professionalism of our Armed Forces Community, and they continue to impress me. I have seen first hand how they have responded to meet the challenges in Afghanistan, while continuing to deliver on so many fronts at home and abroad. It is no surprise that the public hold our Armed Forces in such high regard. We should be in no doubt about the debt of gratitude we owe to those whose service often puts them in harm’s way. This year’s report has added poignancy as we mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Through the many commemorative events we have held, and plan to hold, we all remember and recognise the courage and sacrifice of the military personnel who served in that conflict. Much has changed about service life, but what is unsurprising is that the character demanded by conflict has not changed over the decades. The current generation of Service personnel who served in Afghanistan are testament to this. As we rightly look back with pride at our achievements in Afghanistan over the past 13 years, we should similarly remember, respect and recognise the contribution that the men and women of our Armed Forces have made there. Now that they have returned home, it is more important than ever that we understand the sacrifices they have made, and to repay that loyalty and dedication through the care and support that they need and deserve. That is why the Prime Minister, I and the rest of Government are passionate about delivering the commitments we have made under the Covenant, and ensuring that our Armed Forces are respected and supported. The Prime Minister made this position absolutely clear when he spoke at the Armed Forces Covenant celebration earlier in the summer. In September, this commitment was demonstrated again when the Prime Minister made it his personal priority to ensure that all members of the alliance signed a joint declaration at the NATO summit in Wales to recognise how highly each country valued the contribution of its Armed Forces and to pledge their continued support. In last year’s foreword, my predecessor Philip Hammond announced the launch of the Corporate Covenant and the development of the Forces Help to Buy scheme. I am delighted with the progress that has been made on both. Over 370 companies have now signed the Corporate Covenant, with 10 organisations receiving a Gold Employer Recognition Award from the Prime Minister. The Forces Help to Buy scheme, which launched on 1 April, has already allocated around £29M to help over 1, 900 Service families to get on-to, or stay on, the housing ladder. In February, Lord Ashcroft published his review into the transition process for Service personnel moving back into civilian life. I, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the rest of The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 3 Government, welcomed the report and particularly the key message: that the majority of those who leave the Armed Forces go on to lead successful civilian lives. We have already implemented many of his recommendations, and we will continue strengthening the Veterans support network, and strive to increase society’s understanding of the wider Armed Forces community. Support for this community through the Armed Forces Covenant has also continued to grow at the local level. In July we announced the first successful applications to the £40M Veterans Accommodation Fund, and that every Local Authority in Great Britain has now signed the Community Covenant. In the Chancellor’s 2014 autumn statement, he made several announcements about extra funding the Government have agreed to provide. These include: £6M to support key World War 1 and World War 2 anniversaries between now and up to the Royal British Legion’s centenary in 2021; £10M over five years for Veterans with Service-related hearing problems; and £5m to help the Ghurkha Welfare Trust setup a third care home for Ghurkhas in Nepal. At the end of this financial year the Government will have committed over £100M to support delivery of the Covenant. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and UK Managing Director for Tesco Robin Terrell sign the Corporate Covenant In preparing this report, I have considered the unique obligations and the sacrifices that our Armed Forces make, as well as the Covenant’s key principles: the commitment to remove the disadvantages experienced by the Armed Forces community when compared to their civilian counterparts, in accessing public and commercial goods and services; and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most, such as the injured and the bereaved. In keeping with last year, the main chapters in this year’s report concentrate on the issues specified in the legislation and which have the greatest impact on our people: Healthcare, Education, Housing and Coroners Inquests. The report also focuses on other important subjects under the Covenant, such as: changes to Terms and Conditions of Service; support for Armed Forces families through the provision of operational welfare; ensuring equity of support for the growing number of reserve forces; sponsoring schemes to help Armed Forces spouses overcome disadvantage when seeking employment; and helping personnel during the transition from military to civil life. 4 The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 As required by legislation, I have consulted the Devolved Administrations while preparing the report. I am pleased to say that we have received assistance from Scotland and Wales, and that my Officials have had positive discussions with their opposite numbers in the Northern Ireland Executive. As on previous occasions, and in keeping with the commitment that has been given to Parliament, this report includes the unedited comments that we have received from the external members of the Covenant Reference Group. I am grateful for all that they, the Service Charities and other supporters of the Armed Forces continue to do. I hope that this has produced a report that informs and engages the different audiences for whom it is intended. I recognise that not all will wish to read the report from cover to cover. So, as with last year, I have arranged for a much shorter version, which will capture the report’s key aspects, to be sent to every serving member of the Armed Forces. While I am proud of the progress we have made, and I can offer my personal reassurance that the Government will continue working to deliver our commitments under the Covenant, I would be the first to acknowledge that there will always be more to do. Improving awareness and understanding about the Covenant, and being vigorous in addressing comparative disadvantage wherever it occurs, will be an enduring task. We cannot promise to eradicate disadvantage entirely - the demands of Service life make this an unfortunate reality. However, we can pledge to ensure that, through the Armed Forces Covenant, we strive to do the absolute best we can for our people. Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP Secretary of State for Defence The Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2014 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY "Delivering lasting change” This is the third Annual Report, and as with previous year’s it seeks to set out the key achievements from this year and the areas where we know there is still more to be done.
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