New initiative to assist bereaved families is announced
17 December 2009
Next year, The Royal British Legion will offer a free Independent Legal Advice Service to bereaved Service families. The Legion's legal advisers will be available to give information and guidance, in particular about the inquest process, to ensure that families are fully prepared.
Partially funded by the MoD, it will initially be available for a two-year trial period and will be carefully evaluated during this time to check that it is successfully meeting the needs of families.
In announcing the scheme, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "The inquest process can be daunting for families who have lost loved ones, and have already gone through so much. The Government is committed to giving them the support they need and deserve. I very much welcome the launch of an Independent Legal Advice Service to help families understand the legal aspects of what is involved. We have been working closely with them on the proposal and are delighted to be able to contribute to the cost of the pilot."
The initiative was conceived after the Legion and the War Widows Association of Great Britain organised a forum for Service families to talk about their experiences. Feedback showed that families felt there was an absence of independent expert legal advice.
The Legion's Director General Chris Simpkins said: "Over the next two years, the Legion will be providing the majority of the costs of this service – some £75,000 annually. At the same time, we're delighted to have the backing of the MoD for such a worthy cause.
"Our aim is to ensure that bereaved Service families are satisfied that a full and transparent inquest has taken place and that lessons are reported to, and acted upon, by the MoD."
This trial reflects the Government's broader commitment to support Service personnel and their families which was laid out in the Service Personnel Command Paper, published in July 2008. The MoD will fully support this initiative but will play no part in the running of the service in order to ensure that advice remains independent and impartial.
It is expected that the service will be up and running by May 2010 and in the interim please direct any questions or enquiries to Harvey Tilley, Head of Community Services, The Royal British Legion by email htilley@britishlegion.org.uk or phone 020 3207 2151.
Notes for Editors
- The Independent Legal Advice Service will be available to the families of all those who have lost their lives in Service, whether or not the death occurred on operations. It will be in place in the late Spring/early Summer of 2010, once the necessary staff are recruited and trained.
- Bereaved family members will be able to contact the Legion's legal advisers by phone or by email, and arrange face-to-face meetings. The MoD and the Legion will aim to make sure – for example through MoD Visiting Officers, written material and relevant websites – that families understand what the service provides, and that it is available if they want to use it. The service will be free.
- The trial is expected to last for two years, and will be evaluated by the Legion and MoD to establish the long-term requirement for the service. The MoD is providing launch funding for the pilot through the Veterans Challenge Fund.
