North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today called on the National Assembly for Wales to “honour the contribution of those who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces”.
Leading the Welsh Conservative Debate on Wales’ Armed Forces Communities, Mr Isherwood stated that “Remembrance could, should and does belong to all of us - whatever our politics, ethnicity or faith”.
He also spoke of his concern regarding the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales, highlighting the inconsistencies Veterans and their families have faced when accessing health care in Wales.
Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood, who also raised these concerns, and others, when responding to yesterday’s Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services: ‘Remembering our Armed Forces and Delivering for Our Armed Forces Community’, said:
“Our motion calls on this Assembly to honour the contribution of those who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces.
“Last year’s review of the “Implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant in Wales” by the Assembly Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets explored how services in Wales were fulfilling their obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant. The Group found that since the introduction of the Covenant there had been good work across Wales in delivering its aims, with public services being more aware. Despite positive developments, however, it found that there is insufficient accountability to ensure that organisations subscribed to the Covenant are actually fulfilling their obligations.
“The Armed Forces Covenant states that no one who has served in the Armed Forces should face disadvantage and, in specific circumstances, can expect special consideration in regard to their NHS Care. Despite this, however, Veterans and their families have faced inconsistencies when accessing health care in Wales, with the third and charitable sectors often having to deliver the specialist and rehabilitation services.
“Only Abertawe Bro Morganwg has a dedicated budget for Veterans. In the last three financial years £242,000 has been allocated there, but the six remaining health boards only use core allocations to fund Veteran’s needs.
“Only Aneurin Bevan, Cardiff and Vale, Powys and Hywel Dda Health Boards have adopted the Welsh Government 2017 Guidance in full – and, worryingly, Betsi Cadwaladr stated that it was only adhering to Welsh Government guidance published in 2008, three years before the Covenant was published.
He added:
“Endorsed by the Armed Forces Community and Armed Services Heads, the review by the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets found that in order to uphold the Covenant, the Welsh Government should consider the appointment of an Armed Forces Commissioner for Wales to improve the accountability of public sector organisations for the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant.
“It said the Commissioner should be required to publish an annual report on adherence to the Covenant to be laid in the National Assembly for Wales. Whilst welcome, the appointment of Covenant–funded Armed Forces Liaison Officers across Welsh Local Authorities does not meet this requirement.
“Responding to me yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary side stepped this by stating instead that it was the role of the National Assembly to ensure accountability of Government. Is he therefore saying that we don’t need Commissioners in other areas including Children, Older People and Future Generations? One hundred years after the signing of the treaty that led to the end of the First World War, the Armed Forces Covenant is a Covenant which must endure.”
Mr Isherwood also referred to “Change Step”, a support and peer-mentoring service provided by veterans for veterans seeking help for mental health, loneliness or addiction problems, led by North Wales based Charity CAIS, and the challenges it faces because of its reliance on bid funding.
Stressing that housing is key to veterans and their families, Mr Isherwood referred to the ambitious self-build project for veterans in Wrexham, the third residence in North Wales to be managed by ‘Wales Homes for Veterans’, and spoke about Woody’s Lodge, a charity providing safe spaces for armed service veterans, recent leavers, reservists and those who served in the emergency services to socialise and access a range of health and social services, and interact with people who have had similar experiences. Mr. Isherwood welcomed news that they are opening a site at Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay for veterans across North Wales.