Chloe Smith says VE Day a chance for us to remember all veterans past and present

This weekend we remember the closing hours of the Second World War, and the final victory for allied forces over fascism.

 

All of us owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought for our freedom and to those who continue to do so. We must ensure our veterans and serving armed forces are properly supported, whichever war they fought in.

 

One of the ways we can do this is through the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant is based on the firm principle that those who fight to defend our country must not face disadvantage compared with other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. In some cases special consideration is also necessary. This is especially true for those who have given most, such as the wounded and those who have lost loved ones.

 

From my experience as an MP I’ve seen there is far too much variation in the way the Covenant is applied, something I have been quick to raise in Parliament. Often this variability is down to lack of information. In other words, not everyone is conscious that the Covenant is there or of what it means in a practical sense. I welcome the work of the British Legion and others in raising awareness in response to this issue.

 

All of us have an obligation to support our veterans, from the Government through to local authorities, industry, service charities and of course the public. Personally I believe the show of public support has always been exemplary, such as during the popular campaign to save Jubilee Hall for the Royal British Legion.

 

As an MP, I know from my own casework that veterans and serving soldiers encounter a range of difficulties from family healthcare to children’s education, spousal employment, housing and local services and also commercial support. In the NHS I don’t think I’m alone in believing our veterans should receive priority treatment, subject to the clinical needs of others, for conditions resulting from their service. I welcome the continuous work to update the medical records system to enable smoother cooperation between the military and NHS.

 

I’m also glad to see continued funding for enhanced prosthetic centres for veterans, support for a veterans’ hearing fund and funding to help veterans’ access high-specification wheelchairs. Equally, to tackle mental health problems, the highest standard of support is to being made available, funded by more than £13 million from LIBOR funds.

 

As we celebrate VE Day, let us use this as an opportunity to remember all our veterans, past and present, and ensure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.