Improved support for Moray’s large resident population of military veterans has been welcome by Moray’s MP.
Housing and employment issues are to be prioritised by the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, a post established last year with the aim of delivering improvements for service veterans in Scotland.
Angus Robertson MP, who is the SNP spokesman on defence issues at Westminster, highlighted a question at the Scottish Parliament that announced the new strategy as a “positive step forward” in the delivery of services for veterans in Moray and throughout Scotland.
“The publication of this strategy is a positive step towards improving the support that is offered to the many veterans here in Moray and across Scotland,” Mr Robertson said.
He continued: “Making sure that former members of the armed forces get the support and assistance that they deserve is so important and this strategy shows that the Scottish Veterans Commissioner is determined to make a real difference.
“The SNP Government has been determined to provide greater support to the estimated 400,000 ex-service men and women in Scotland, with measures like extending the free bus pass to injured veterans.
“I am sure that the work of the Veterans Commissioner will help to drive further improvement and I very much look forward to that.”
Eric Fraser was appointed into the post of Scottish Veterans Commissioner in June last year after a 37-year career serving in the Royal Navy. At the time of his appointment Col Martin Gibson, executive chairman of Veterans Scotland said: “We very much look forward to working with the commissioner in further enhancing communication on veterans’ issues within the public sector.
“Our 400,000 veterans, who served in the UK Armed Forces to ensure we all continue to enjoy our freedom today, will welcome this announcement.”
Details of the strategy laid out in the Scottish Veterans Workplan can be found online.