Report details progress on nation's commitment to Armed Forces

The Service Personnel Command Paper was commissioned by the Prime Minister in November 2007 and published in July 2008.

It set out over 40 commitments to improve the level of support to the Armed Forces Community in key areas like compensation, healthcare, and accommodation.

It established enduring principles for the future - of special treatment where appropriate for Armed Forces personnel, for families and for veterans, and that those same groups should not be disadvantaged as a result of service.

An External Reference Group (ERG) was set up to monitor delivery, and to report annually to the Prime Minister, to the Defence Secretary, to the First Ministers for Scotland and Wales, and to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland.

The ERG includes representatives of the Naval, Army and RAF Families Federations, and the leading Service charities, as well as the Government Departments involved in delivery. It is the first of their reports that is being published today.

The report highlights achievements over the past year, including:

• the doubling of compensation payments for the most serious injuries;
• improved access to affordable housing schemes;
• the retention of places on NHS waiting lists when families move;
• access to substantial grants to adapt homes for disabled veterans; and
• free further education for those leaving the Services.

The report also sets out what remains to be done to maintain progress and achieve the task we set ourselves last year. The Government will be following up the valuable points made in the report.

Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth said:

"Service life imposes unique demands upon our people. We ask them to serve whenever and wherever they are needed, and this impacts upon them and their families. As a Government we have a moral obligation to ensure that Service life does not disadvantage their rights as citizens.

"I am pleased to publish the first annual report that the External Reference Group, with its unique perspective, has submitted. The report shows what has already been delivered, how far we have progressed in other areas, and the impact so far.

"Much has been achieved. Much remains to be done. Our commitment continues undiminished."

Dawn McCafferty, RAF Families Federation Chairman, said:

"The RAF Families Federation, with our Navy and Army counterparts, have been active members of the External Reference Group charged with monitoring the implementation of the Service Personnel Command Paper.

"The report was in itself a significant step forward in highlighting the many challenges confronting military families and we are heartened by the proactive engagement by a number of Government Departments and the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Government in seeking to understand and mitigate some of the disadvantages experienced by Service families.

"This first annual report illustrates progress made to date and it is our job as independent witnesses on behalf of Service families to ensure that promises made are promises kept. In some areas, progress has been very encouraging; in others we see the commitments as 'work in progress'.

"However, the direction of travel is positive and we are pleased to be engaged with officials who are now actively seeking our views as to how they can improve service delivery to the Armed Forces constituency.

"We will continue to provide evidence of the unique challenges facing military families and hope that our evidence will contribute to an enhanced appreciation of the unique contribution of military families to the operational effectiveness of our men and women on the front line."