Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Lord Coaker (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 2 February 2017. It occurred during Backbench debate on Armed Forces Covenant.


Armed Forces Covenant

I am making the more general point that the situation varies across the country. I am sure that it is really good in some local education authorities, but it is not so good elsewhere. Perhaps the situation in Aldershot, which is in Hampshire, is particularly good because there are a lot of service personnel, so they have experience. The Government need to consider what happens when service personnel disperse to areas across the country that do not have so many service personnel and how to give them the same quality of provision.

Finally, the issue of mental health will not go away. Significant numbers of veterans are still struggling to access the services that they need. We can debate why that is, but the reality is that things need to be improved and more needs to be done.

This is a hugely significant debate—it has almost been a discussion—and we all want the best for our veterans. We talk about their service to the country, and we need to make sure that the country does its best for them.

2.49 pm


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
620 c1254 
Session
2016-17
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Armed forces Armed forces covenant
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on hansard.parliament.uk