Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2018
I welcome Eric Fraser to the public gallery—I have just been made aware that he is there—and I hope that he finds the proceedings interesting.
Maurice Corry is aware—-I hope—of the background to the funding of veterans first point and the history of LIBOR funding. When that funding came to an end last year, the understanding that local partnerships would ensure that services became self-sustaining did not materialise, and the Government stepped in to offer partnership funding. It is important to understand the background of the LIBOR funding.
Veterans first point is a network of NHS-led services across six areas in Scotland. Those areas are important, and I have heard nothing to suggest that the services will not continue with joint funding. Mr Corry mentioned issues in Grampian and in Highland. He will be aware that NHS Grampian has enhanced its service through a new venture with the Defence Medical Welfare Service to ensure that older veterans and their families in the north-east with particular needs will have access to support when they are faced with challenges. I do not know whether Mr Corry is aware that a further LIBOR grant of more than £1 million has recently been awarded in Highland. Veterans first point is discussing how to move that forward with a national third sector provider, and I hope that good news will emanate in that respect.
Mr Corry will also be aware that some boards have never been part of the LIBOR funding so have always had their own services for veterans. That is okay. As cabinet secretary, I want services to support veterans, whether those are delivered through veterans first point or through other services. What is important is not who provides the services or how they are provided but the fact that they are provided.
We provide £825,000 to support veterans first point services, and that has been match funded by the boards. I will follow the matter up and make sure that the boards that have committed that match funding continue to do so.