Public Policy eNews - October 2009

Welcome to our Party Conference edition 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

The Legion publishes an election manifesto
The Legion has for the first time published its own election manifesto. The Manifesto, which includes a letter from the Legion's National Chairman Peter Cleminson to candidates standing in the General Election, sets out what we want the next government to do for the whole Armed Forces family. It also informs candidates how they can "do their bit" to ensure our manifesto calls are taken on board by their own party.

Copies have been sent to the Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nick Clegg as well as to all MPs, Peers and candidates. Our message is simple: "It’s time to do your bit." There is also a website for the Manifesto (www.timetodoyourbit.org.uk) where candidates can pledge online to do their bit and members of the public can sign a petition to urge each of the party leaders to include our manifesto calls in their own party's manifesto.

The Legion at the party conferences
The Manifesto was promoted at Legion-held events at the recent political party conferences. At a packed fringe meeting, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence spokesman Nick Harvey discussed the Manifesto recommendations with the Legion's Director of Welfare, Sue Freeth.

At the Labour conference the Legion held both a fringe meeting debate and an evening reception. At the fringe debate meeting Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell discussed the needs of the Service community with our Director General, Chris Simpkins. A number of MPs and Parliamentary Candidates attended the evening reception. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown turned out to meet and greet the Legion staff and members in attendance.

We also held a fringe meeting at the Conservatives' party conference, which was addressed by James Gray, Chairman of the influential All Party Parliamentary Group for the Army. The Conservative leader David Cameron attended our evening reception and in a short speech thanked the Legion for its hard work in helping the Serving and ex-Service community. Dr Liam Fox Shadow Defence spokesman stated that should his party be elected they would look to act on our Manifesto recommendations but couldn't promise delivery of everything we ask for.

Council Tax discount for the Armed Forces in Wales
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that Service personnel with a home in Wales but who live in MoD accommodation will get a 50% discount on their council tax. In England and Scotland such a discount on the unoccupied home is an automatic right for Service personnel but in Wales it is only applied at the discretion of the local authority. Many authorities were failing to give the discount so Assembly local government minister Dr Brian Gibbons has announced the discount will become an automatic right.

Landmark Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) victory
The Legion has won a landmark judicial victory for the principles underlying fairer compensation for wounded Armed Forces personnel following a ruling by the Court of Appeal.

The Court ruled that where injuries are exacerbated by proper and appropriate medical treatment, those consequential injuries fall under the AFCS. This opens the door for Service personnel not only to be compensated for the initial injury suffered, but also for the consequences of that injury.

MoD lawyers argued that under the scheme, compensation was payable for the injury itself at the time it occurred and not for future disability resulting from it, a position rejected by the Court of Appeal.

"This issue goes to the heart of the AFCS and to the principle of fairness," said Mr Simpkins. "We now have a judicial foothold for our ongoing efforts to improve the AFCS, including our representations before the AFCS review to be heard under an independent chairman, Admiral the Lord Boyce."

Welfare

Increase in the capital savings limit for pension credit and CTB/HB
As of 2 November 2009 the lower savings limit for Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit will rise from £6,000 to £10,000 for pensioners. This means some people will become newly eligible for these benefits whilst others will see their entitlement increase.

Poppy Break Centres
The Legion operates Poppy Break Centres at seaside resorts around the country. They provide beneficiaries recovering from an illness, bereavement or other life-affecting event with a one or two week period of rest and relaxation. Guests can enjoy full board, en suite accommodation, trips to local tourist attractions along with other activities and entertainment throughout their stay. Anyone who qualifies for Legion assistance and is interested in visiting one of the Poppy Break Centres should contact Legionline on 08457 725 725.

Adventure Breaks for young people
The Legion is now also providing Poppy Adventure Breaks for children, aged 12 to 17 years, of men and women who are or have served in the Armed Forces. These are activity packed seven day holidays. Each activity centre provides a choice of over 50 activities such as quad biking, archery, climbing, T-shirt making or bracelet making. There is plenty to do in the evenings as well, including discos, game shows and talent shows. A day out to a local theme park is also provided during the week.

Poppy Adventure Breaks not only provide young people with a once in a lifetime experience but also provide parents with a well deserved break. Anyone with a child interested in attending a Poppy Adventure Break should contact Legionline on 08457 725 725.

DFG changes
The Legion has changed the way in which it provides assistance to beneficiaries who require a home adaptation to enable them to continue living in their own home. Previously the Legion had stepped in to fund adaptations, such as stair lifts and level access showers, when a client faced a long wait for funding under the local authority Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) scheme. Unfortunately the Legion cannot continue to assist in this manner and in future assistance will concentrate on helping our clients access local authority grants they are legally entitled to. The Legion will now only provide funding when a local authority has failed to help the client within the legal time limit of 12 months. The Legion will also assist such applicants with a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman. For further information on this change please contact Dan Martin at mailto:dmartin@britishlegion.org.uk.

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