Gordon Meets Veterans Minister On Blackpool Visit
Gordon and his Blackpool North colleague Joan Humble welcomed Veterans Minister Kevan Jones at the town’s British Legion Club and announced proposals for a Parliamentary enquiry into issues facing service personnel leaving the service early.
The enquiry would be held by the All-Party Parliamentary Veterans Group of which both Blackpool MPs are officers. It is supported by COBSEO the national co-ordinating group for all service and welfare charities and voluntary organisations and would take the form of up to four select committee style oral evidence sessions as well as written submissions.
Among the subjects it would look at include skills and resettlement support, how to join up the welfare programme for service personnel both with civilian housing and social services and the particular challenge for those who leave early and have dependency or psychological issues.
‘We hope this enquiry which could start in Parliament after the General Election will make a significant and focused contribution to the welcome emphasis on strengthening support for ‘new’ veterans and the campaigns being run by the British Legion and others’ said Mr Marsden who chairs the group in Parliament.
‘The intense pressures and commitment on our armed forces in the past 10-15 years, particularly with service in Iraq and Afghanistan mean that we need to make sure that people who do leave service early get the best possible guidance and practical support and that its joined up.
Given that Blackpool has been so much at the heart of Veterans activity it’s fitting that we are unveiling these proposals here, and with the support of national groups who know how important this issue is.’
Joan Humble added ‘we are keen the enquiry should get evidence and witnesses from the Ministry of Defence, including the Veterans Minister, but also outside agencies and charities like the Salvation Army, Combat Stress and others, to contribute to the new approaches that both the Ministry of Defence, the British Legion and others are looking at, we would hope to get a report and recommendations over the summer. We very much welcome Kevan’s visit to Blackpool today as underlining the role the town’s playing on these issues.’
As well as outlining his role as Veterans Minister, Kevan Jones also acknowledged the £1110,000 the Blackpool legion has raised for their annual Poppython, for which Gordon is doing a sponsored swim at the Palatine Pool today. His itinerary also included a visit to the Memorial Arboretum on Moor Park Avenue with local co-ordinators and meeting with other officers of ex-service personnel groups as well as the President of the Blackpool British Legion, Ian Coleman, and volunteers.
