Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the LGA’s Community and Wellbeing Board, responds to the Prime Minister’s announcement to create a new Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
“The new Office for Veterans’ Affairs is a positive step and marks a turning point in the support that Armed Forces personnel will receive.
“Armed Forces serving personnel, veterans and their families are valued members of our communities which is why all councils, who are often the first port of call for veterans and their families, are committed to supporting them and have signed the voluntary Armed Forces Covenant. Councils work with partners to provide a range of services including housing, money advice, employment support and health and wellbeing services, that help to meet the needs of veterans and their families.
“The Government now needs to ensure that the Office is given teeth, including additional funding for councils. The scale of the funding challenge facing local government means it is becoming increasingly challenging to maintain the current level of support for the armed forces community.
“Our veterans deserve the best support, and councils look forward to working with the Government to ensure that they receive just that.”
Notes to editors:
- The LGA has previously called on the Government to do more to support veterans, their families and serving personnel
- Councils in England face an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign calls on the new Prime Minister to ensure the forthcoming Spending Review secures the future of vital local services and the long-term financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information.