It remains the SNP’s policy of establishing a permanent Armed Forces Representative Body for the whole of the Armed Forces Community that would be run independently from Government to advocate and implement policies in the interests of current and former personnel and their families.
The SNP is committed to working with organisations like Poppy Scotland to reform the way that personnel’s interests are represented and pursued.
In Government, the SNP has sought to help personnel use their experiences in the military to the best of their advantage, for example through continuing to fund the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership to map military qualifications against those which are recognised by employers in Scotland and expanding this work to look at Royal Navy Catering Services branches.
Through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, the SNP Scottish Government offered funding from the £1.3 million grant award to Veterans Housing Scotland to support it as it progresses proposals to deliver additional homes for disabled ex-Service personnel.
The SNP in Government also appointed a Scottish Veterans Commissioner (the first person to hold such a position in the UK) who; committed £750,000 of funding for the Unforgotten Forces Consortium to support older Veterans in Scotland; and changed the rules to ensure the War Disablement Pension is exempt from the assessment of income.
At this election the SNP is committed to highlighting and promoting the many positive contributions of veterans and their families.
The SNP will lead a public awareness campaign, specifically targeting employers and the business community to help increase employment opportunities.
Finally, the SNP has committed to increase the Scottish Veterans Fund to £500,000 and extend its criteria, inviting bids that reflect collaborative working and target early service leavers. We will also create more job opportunities for veterans in the Scottish Government.
Fiona Hyslop