Public Policy eNews - July 2009

Welcome to another issue of the Legion's policy eNewsletter. We hope you find this a useful source of updates on government policy, Legion campaigning and welfare benefit developments.

Politics and Policy

Considering the needs of the Armed Forces
The MoD has launched a consultation process to find out how to improve the support given to the Armed Forces and their families. The Green Paper "The Nation's Commitment to the Armed Forces Community: Consistent and Enduring Support", suggests options for how to ensure the special circumstances of the Armed Forces community are taken into account by public bodies at all stages from policy development to service provision. The consultation seeks input from the Armed Forces and their families, Service charities and the public as well as service providers. The deadline for submission is 31 October 2009.

Study into new military rehabilitation centre
More announcements from a busy MoD with them releasing details of a year long study to consider proposals to provide a new state of the art rehabilitation centre for injured personnel. The study will aim to establish costs and implications for a national rehabilitation centre that could be built in the Midlands in approximately ten years' time.

Return to Rationing - a decent life for older veterans
The Legion's Return to Rationing campaign call for Council Tax Benefit to be rebranded as a rebate continues to make waves. As expected the House of Commons Bill put forward by Joan Ryan MP didn't make it to a 2nd reading. However cross-party support for the change is growing with both the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats writing to the Legion to pledge their support for the reform.

More importantly the recently departed Work and Pensions Minister Kitty Usher stated in a House of Commons debate that "making the change makes common sense". The DWP have admitted that they are now looking into the practicalities of making the change. This isn't a result for the campaign just yet but it looks like it might not be far off.

Boost for Armed Forces accommodation
1,500 Service personnel will see their MoD accommodation improved ahead of schedule following an announcement to bring forward £50 million in spending on improvements. The money was originally designated for the years 2010/11 and 2011/12 will now be spent this year on improving both Service Families Accommodation and Single Living Accommodation.

This news is fully supported by the Legion as we have called, in our Honour the Covenant campaign, for the Government to provide funding to bring all Service accommodation up to the highest standard by 2013. This development alone will not achieve this but it should certainly improve the living conditions of many of our Service personnel earlier than planned.

Reform of the Coroner's system
The Legion has been working behind the scenes with members of the House of Lords on the Coroners and Justice Bill currently making its way through Parliament. Calls from the Legion to remove the provision for "secret inquests" have already been removed from the Bill, and the Legion is now working with Peers to strengthen the support for Armed Forces families, who will unfortunately go through the inquest system in the future. The Legion is looking for minimum training requirements for coroners who will investigate military deaths, juries for inquests which involve training incidents or those aged under 18 years and an exemption from the means test for Legal Aid. More information on the progress and debates on the Bill is available here.

Welfare 

The future of social care
The Government has published its long-awaited Green Paper on social care, "Shaping the future of care together", which sets out possible ways to reform various aspects of the social care system, including funding. Among the funding options put forward are partnership funding, whereby a portion of social care costs would be paid by the state with those on low incomes receiving more assistance, and insurance funding, under which individuals would again receive some funding from the state but would be able to cover the rest of their costs through insurance, to be paid in instalments or in a lump sum on retirement or death. The consultation runs until 13 November 2009.

Local authority blames Army leaver for being homeless – then backs down
The Vale of White Horse District Council recently found a Service leaver 'Intentionally Homeless' for losing his MoD accommodation following his decision to leave the Army. The authority found that Mr Jarju knew he would be asked to leave his home if he did not sign up for a further period of Service. Therefore his homelessness was his own fault. The Vale of White Horse then ignored Government guidance on this issue and declared that they would not be providing any accommodation for the family.

Fortunately Mr Jarju and his solicitor, with Legion backing, were ready and prepared to take the case to court. Eventually the Vale of White Horse backed down, accepting their action was unlawful and agreeing to accommodate the family. The Legion is concerned that other local councils are finding Service Leavers to be 'Intentionally Homeless' in similar circumstances. We intend to monitor the situation and act on any concerns. If you are aware of any such cases then please email dmartin@britishlegion.org.uk with the details.

Launch of new hotline for carers
Carers Direct - a new website and 7 days a week helpline on 0808 802 0202 - was launched in June, to offer information and advice to carers. It is hoped the service will make England's 5 million carers' lives easier and reduce the time and stress of searching out advice. It offers a variety of information and advice, including details of support available, including assessments, benefits and time off, help to maintain, leave or return to employment and advice on how to maintain or improve social and emotional well-being and physical and mental health.

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