Priority for housing among Tory plans to make ‘real difference’ for veterans

The Scottish Conservatives have pushed for the Government to give veterans priority in assessing homelessness applications.

The party published a new paper on Friday with five key asks of the Government, including prioritising the housing of those who served in the armed forces.

Along with fast-tracking homelessness applications to keep veterans off the street, the Tories have also called for a civil service fast-track scheme for those looking to work in the public sector, along with guaranteeing access to training, education or apprenticeships.

Under the Tory proposals, veterans would also be given access to empty married quarters on bases in the year after leaving service in a bid to stem the risk of homelessness – a suggestion the Government said it would take on board and engage with the Ministry of Defence on.

Launching the paper, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the service personnel who put their lives on the line to safeguard our national security.

“The very least these brave men and women deserve in return is support, respect and dignity when they return to civilian life, especially as many will bear physical or psychological scars from their service.

“Our paper is full of practical measures that will make a real difference to the lives of veterans – reducing their bills and enhancing access to housing, healthcare and career development.”

The party also pledged to introduce a Bill which would enshrine the armed forces covenant – an initiative designed to support veterans – in law.

Tory veterans spokesman Edward Mountain added: “It should shame us as a nation that several hundred Scottish veterans are homeless this Christmas and thousands are looking for a job.

“We must do far more to support armed forces personnel when they re-enter civilian life, which is why the paper we’re launching is so important.

“The Scottish Conservatives would pass legislation to support our services and the wider defence sector, which has been neglected by the SNP, and enshrine the armed forces covenant in devolved areas of government.”

Responding to the plans, veterans minister Graeme Dey said: “Our armed forces personnel and veterans deserve our upmost respect and recognition.

“We are working closely across Government, in areas such as health, mental health and housing, to improve and refine the support on offer to veterans and their families.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting service personnel and their families, past or present, living or based in Scotland, and to ensuring they have access to all the help, support and public services they require.

“That is why we recently announced funding of £645,000 for the charity Combat Stress, to provide veterans whose experiences in the armed forces have left them affected by trauma with access to online mental health support.

“This comes ahead of the phased launch next year of our national veterans mental health and wellbeing pathway which will provide appropriate, timely mental health and wellbeing services to support veterans regardless of where they live in Scotland.

“We will engage with MoD on the suggestion that retiring personnel are able to access empty service family accommodation for a limited time on leaving the forces.”