Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2014
14 Jan 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Veterans
I close the debate on behalf of the Labour Party as I opened it, by restating the continued support that we give our armed forces personnel and veterans. It is telling that, as was pointed out by Ken Macintosh and Hanzala Malik, public support for our armed forces continues to rise despite what some would consider contentious conflicts that not all members of the public support.
We owe a debt of gratitude to members of the armed forces and veterans, and we will be able to mark some of the key events from world war one over the next few years. I have met Norman Drummond, chair of the Scottish commemorations panel, who outlined the key dates and events that will commemorate some of the events that have a particularly strong Scottish dimension. I look forward to attending as many of those events as possible over the next few years.
As well as work at a national level to commemorate events, local projects are on-going. As Ken Macintosh said, the Mearns history group has collated the records of the commitment of local people from the community who fought in world war one. The Croy Historical Society has compiled records in my region, to which I made a small contribution, with my great uncle’s “Soldier’s Bible” from the first world war, which was passed on to me—the Bibles were awarded to him and members of his regiment by the lord provost of Rutherglen before they went on service.
Those serving in our armed forces are asked to make massive personal human rights sacrifices and, ultimately, to give up their right to life in service of the nation. Christina McKelvie and Hanzala Malik mentioned that in their speeches, continuing on from the excellent debate secured by Christina McKelvie on the ASAP report, which was welcomed right across the chamber. It is only right that Governments and we as a nation value, respect and support our armed forces, culminating in the annual commemoration of armistice day, when we stop to remember those who have given their lives in action so that we can enjoy the freedom that we experience today. Members of the armed forces have fallen back on that military covenant, when Governments in Scotland and across the UK and the wider public are able to show their support for them.
Members might know that I spent some time in the Territorial Army, in relation to which I have not had a similar experience in any other part of my life. Although I went through all the training that a reservist can, I did not deploy to any military conflict zone because of university and work commitments, so I cannot even start to imagine the level of intensity and commitment to fellow soldiers that go with a front-line experience.
Having had that front-line experience, soldiers who return to society often enter that community of strangers that Nigel Don flagged up from my opening speech. That is what makes the Royal British Legion and other community focal points so important. For example, as Liam McArthur mentioned, the legion in Orkney operates with a large degree of community support, given that it has 12 per cent of the population as members. With that focus on reintegrating members of the armed forces into the community, such organisations break down that community of strangers barrier and allow people who have the same experiences to interact. If people from the wider public are brought in, they can talk through a lot of their experiences in active service with them, spreading much more widely throughout the community an understanding of the role and the pressure that they are under. The support and advice that such community organisations and others provide are vital.
A number of members used the word “plethora” when talking about the number of veterans organisations, which can be confusing for armed forces veterans. I hope that the veterans commissioner’s first action will be to address that point and make his or her door the first port of call for a veteran who is looking to be pointed towards the support services that they need.
I hope, too, that the commissioner will build on the work of veterans champions in local authorities. In North Lanarkshire Council, for example, the work of the veterans champion has led to housing policy being amended to recognise the priority needs of homeless ex-service personnel—and their families—before they are discharged from the forces, so that appropriate housing can be identified and prepared before veterans rejoin the community.
I support the motion in the minister’s name and I support the establishment of a veterans commissioner. I look forward to the consultation on the commissioner’s role and responsibilities.
15:25
We owe a debt of gratitude to members of the armed forces and veterans, and we will be able to mark some of the key events from world war one over the next few years. I have met Norman Drummond, chair of the Scottish commemorations panel, who outlined the key dates and events that will commemorate some of the events that have a particularly strong Scottish dimension. I look forward to attending as many of those events as possible over the next few years.
As well as work at a national level to commemorate events, local projects are on-going. As Ken Macintosh said, the Mearns history group has collated the records of the commitment of local people from the community who fought in world war one. The Croy Historical Society has compiled records in my region, to which I made a small contribution, with my great uncle’s “Soldier’s Bible” from the first world war, which was passed on to me—the Bibles were awarded to him and members of his regiment by the lord provost of Rutherglen before they went on service.
Those serving in our armed forces are asked to make massive personal human rights sacrifices and, ultimately, to give up their right to life in service of the nation. Christina McKelvie and Hanzala Malik mentioned that in their speeches, continuing on from the excellent debate secured by Christina McKelvie on the ASAP report, which was welcomed right across the chamber. It is only right that Governments and we as a nation value, respect and support our armed forces, culminating in the annual commemoration of armistice day, when we stop to remember those who have given their lives in action so that we can enjoy the freedom that we experience today. Members of the armed forces have fallen back on that military covenant, when Governments in Scotland and across the UK and the wider public are able to show their support for them.
Members might know that I spent some time in the Territorial Army, in relation to which I have not had a similar experience in any other part of my life. Although I went through all the training that a reservist can, I did not deploy to any military conflict zone because of university and work commitments, so I cannot even start to imagine the level of intensity and commitment to fellow soldiers that go with a front-line experience.
Having had that front-line experience, soldiers who return to society often enter that community of strangers that Nigel Don flagged up from my opening speech. That is what makes the Royal British Legion and other community focal points so important. For example, as Liam McArthur mentioned, the legion in Orkney operates with a large degree of community support, given that it has 12 per cent of the population as members. With that focus on reintegrating members of the armed forces into the community, such organisations break down that community of strangers barrier and allow people who have the same experiences to interact. If people from the wider public are brought in, they can talk through a lot of their experiences in active service with them, spreading much more widely throughout the community an understanding of the role and the pressure that they are under. The support and advice that such community organisations and others provide are vital.
A number of members used the word “plethora” when talking about the number of veterans organisations, which can be confusing for armed forces veterans. I hope that the veterans commissioner’s first action will be to address that point and make his or her door the first port of call for a veteran who is looking to be pointed towards the support services that they need.
I hope, too, that the commissioner will build on the work of veterans champions in local authorities. In North Lanarkshire Council, for example, the work of the veterans champion has led to housing policy being amended to recognise the priority needs of homeless ex-service personnel—and their families—before they are discharged from the forces, so that appropriate housing can be identified and prepared before veterans rejoin the community.
I support the motion in the minister’s name and I support the establishment of a veterans commissioner. I look forward to the consultation on the commissioner’s role and responsibilities.
15:25
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Before we come to the debate on veterans, I want to say that I am deeply disappointed that a major policy announcement that was to be made as part of the deb...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
Presiding Officer, I note your comments about the release of information. We tried hard to ensure that it did not happen, but it has happened. As you have su...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I very much welcome the opportunity to speak about armed forces veterans and the vital support services and charities that operate in Scotland and throughout...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I start by thanking the BBC for advance sight of the minister’s statement. Although I say that in a fairly light-hearted way, there is a serious issue here. ...
Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP)
SNP
The armed forces class a veteran as anyone who has given one day of what is called reckonable service. That may be because once someone has made the decision...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the Government for today’s debate and for allowing Parliament to recognise the contribution that veterans have made and continue to make to our count...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Macintosh. Methinks we are going to miss John Park for the football.14:52
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
We all know the quote:“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”In this case, it is for one’s nation, but do we really know th...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I welcome the debate, and I am pleased to be able to offer a few brief remarks.As the motion rightly acknowledges, we owe a considerable debt to veterans, bu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
On this occasion, I will allow nicknames.15:01
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the announcement of a commissioner, which I think is a step in the right direction. The minister suggests that the commissioner would oversee the p...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I am honoured to speak in the debate. Veterans and veteran issues are close to my heart, as I am an ex-Territorial Army soldier myself, having served in the ...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the announcement of the creation of a new post of veterans commissioner. I have a personal interest in the military, as my daughter’s boyfrie...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to conclude the debate on behalf of my party and, as the convener of the cross-party group on armed forces veterans, declare something of an i...
Mark Griffin
Lab
I close the debate on behalf of the Labour Party as I opened it, by restating the continued support that we give our armed forces personnel and veterans. It ...
Keith Brown
SNP
I am grateful to all members who have spoken. We heard some good speeches, which contained knowledge, insight, suggestions and indeed criticisms. I will try ...