Legion launches 'Manifesto for Wales 2011' at National Assembly
20 January 2011
The Royal British Legion launched its manifesto
for May's Welsh general election at a special event for Assembly
Members at the Senedd in Cardiff today.
The manifesto, a first for the Legion in Wales, sets out five measures that it wants the next Welsh Assembly Government to take to help Wales' serving and ex-Service community. The manifesto calls, which all come under the Assembly's devolved responsibilities, ask the next Welsh Assembly Government to:
- Assess the impact of mobility on Armed Forces families, especially in relation to health, employment and education.
- Make the NHS priority treatment system work for veterans with conditions related to their Service in the Armed Forces.
- Ensure that local authorities meet their statutory obligations to provide Disabled Facilities Grants to veterans who need adaptations to their homes and that all local authorities publish transparent and consistent data on waiting times.
- Exempt all veterans who require a Disabled Facilities Grant from the current means test if the adaptation is needed because of a Service-related injury.
- Ensure local authorities in Wales fully disregard all War Pension payments when means-testing for Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit.
Both the National Chairman and Director General of the Legion spoke at the event, which was sponsored by Darren Millar AM in his capacity as Chair of the Assembly's Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces and Cadets in Wales.
John Farmer, the Legion's National Chairman, told AMs how special it was for the Legion to be launching its first ever manifesto for Wales at the heart of Welsh democracy during the charity's 90th anniversary year.
Chris Simpkins, the Legion's Director General, said: "Our five manifesto calls are simple, reasonable and do-able. Their implementation by the next Welsh Assembly Government would make a real and much-needed difference to the welfare of the Armed Forces in Wales."
The Legion is also asking every AM and candidate for the Welsh general election to pledge to do their bit for the whole Armed Forces family online at www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk.
ENDS
For further information about the manifesto, please go to www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk or contact: Kevin Shinkwin, Head of Public Affairs, The Royal British Legion, at kshinkwin@britishlegion.org.uk
Note to Editors:
How AMs and Welsh general election candidates do their bit
is entirely up to them.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Susan Cottam, Public Relations Officer, The Royal British
Legion
T: 020 3207 2477 M: 07775 017889 E:scottam@britishlegion.org.uk
