- the Armed Forces Bill will enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant in law and help prevent service personnel and veterans being disadvantaged when accessing services like healthcare, education and housing
- the Bill will improve the Service Justice System for armed forces personnel wherever they are operating.
New legislation to help ensure armed forces personnel, veterans and their families are not disadvantaged when accessing key public services has been introduced in the House of Commons this week.
The Armed Forces Bill will embed the Armed Forces Covenant into law, introducing a legal duty for UK public bodies to have due regard to the principles of the Covenant, a pledge to ensure the UK Armed Forces community is treated fairly.
Focusing on healthcare, housing and education, it will increase awareness among public bodies of the unique nature of military service, improving the level of service for members of the armed forces community, no matter where in the UK they live.
Supporting the changes Antony Higginbotham MP said,
The Armed Forces Covenant is our promise to both veterans and those serving that we will honour their service and sacrifice by treating them and their families properly. We've seen over the last year how much we depend on them - not only as a result of Covid but on issues like flooding too.
It's right that we do everything we can to repay the efforts they go to supporting us at home and abroad, and enshrining the Covenant in law is absolutely the right thing to do. I'm looking forward to speaking in favour of this Bill when it comes to the Commons for debate in the weeks ahead.
Since the launch of the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011, many businesses have committed to offering part-time or flexible working patterns to reservists, military spouses and partners. Many have also pledged to offer free training and to actively recruit veterans.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
For the first time ever we are putting into law the Armed Forces Covenant. This will break new ground, ensuring we live up to the principles of the Covenant and treating all UK Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families with fairness.
It builds on progress we have already made, helping veterans into work through our guaranteed interview scheme, supporting service families with childcare, and providing personnel with more choice of accommodation.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said:
More than 6,000 businesses, charities and public organisations have already pledged to support veterans, service personnel and their families by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. This a fantastic feat and has changed lives up and down the country.
Today, we are going further still to help ensure all personnel across the UK have equal access to vital services like healthcare, education and housing. This is no less than those who have risked their lives defending this country deserve.
Enshrining the Covenant in law also builds on a number of initiatives implemented over the last year to support service leavers and veterans. These include the Defence Transition Services organisation which was established to assist those facing the greatest difficulties successfully transition to civilian life after leaving service. 800 GP practices in England are also now accredited as veteran friendly. This helps doctors provide extra support to ex-military personnel who may face additional challenges when returning to civilian life.
