Gordon Quizzes Cameron on Veterans Funding Doubt
Gordon has quizzed Prime Minister David Cameron about funding support to charities helping ex-service personnel with mental health problems.
In the Prime Minister’s first Question Time session since taking office in the new coalition Government Gordon highlighted the £2 million by the previous Labour Government in order to support Combat Stress which has now been threatened by the coalition’s review process.
“I was alarmed to read that the £2 million set aside by the previous Government to support Combat Stress had been placed under review by the present Government. Is the Prime Minister able to renew that commitment to Combat Stress, or will it fall at the first hurdle?”
Mr Cameron congratulated Gordon for all his work on veterans but could not give any guarantees over the funding for Combat Stress, replying: “It needs to happen not just this year, while our troops are still in Afghanistan, but for all the years into the future. There are figures that suggest that more people committed suicide after the Falklands war than were killed in combat. I take this issue extremely seriously; the hon. Gentleman has my word that those services will be properly looked after.”
Speaking afterwards Gordon said, “Warm words need to be backed up by keeping the promise to fund specific help, such as the £2 million the previous Government committed to Combat Stress. This was specifically for specialist nursing help to veterans who have mental health needs.
“This is an issue which has particular relevance to Blackpool and other areas with large number of active service personnel and veterans. I will be taking this up further with the new Veterans Minister Andrew Robathan to urge him that this promised funding isn’t withdrawn.”
