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| David Cameron accused of U-turn over military covenant | David Cameron accused of U-turn over military covenant |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Royal British Legion has accused the prime minister of going back on his word to set in law a military covenant between the nation and its troops. | The Royal British Legion has accused the prime minister of going back on his word to set in law a military covenant between the nation and its troops. |
| The charity's head Chris Simpkins also criticised the "watering down" of other plans to enhance support for troops. | The charity's head Chris Simpkins also criticised the "watering down" of other plans to enhance support for troops. |
| Last June, David Cameron indicated the covenant - a promise of a duty of care in return for sacrifices made - would be set out in legislation. | Last June, David Cameron indicated the covenant - a promise of a duty of care in return for sacrifices made - would be set out in legislation. |
| Ministers deny a U-turn and say they are doing all they can for forces. | Ministers deny a U-turn and say they are doing all they can for forces. |
| The criticism comes as an organisation representing service personnel and their relatives warns of what it calls a tidal wave of low morale in the Army. | The criticism comes as an organisation representing service personnel and their relatives warns of what it calls a tidal wave of low morale in the Army. |
| During a visit to HMS Ark Royal last summer, David Cameron told personnel he wanted to make formal commitments to them on matters like education for military children and care for troops injured on the battlefield. | During a visit to HMS Ark Royal last summer, David Cameron told personnel he wanted to make formal commitments to them on matters like education for military children and care for troops injured on the battlefield. |
| "I want all these things refreshed and renewed and written down in a new military covenant that's written into the law of the land," he said. | "I want all these things refreshed and renewed and written down in a new military covenant that's written into the law of the land," he said. |
| But Mr Simpkins told the Times newspaper that the new href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/armedforces.html" >Armed Forces Bill did not fulfil that promise - and instead, would require the Ministry of Defence only to publish an annual report on the covenant. | |
| "It sounds like a U-turn to me," he said. | "It sounds like a U-turn to me," he said. |
| Mr Simpkins, who will give evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee on Wednesday, also said the draft legislation reduced the role of an external body whose job it was to monitor the implementation of the covenant. | Mr Simpkins, who will give evidence to the Armed Forces Bill Select Committee on Wednesday, also said the draft legislation reduced the role of an external body whose job it was to monitor the implementation of the covenant. |
| "The proposals have been significantly watered down to a point where we can't entirely support them," he added. | "The proposals have been significantly watered down to a point where we can't entirely support them," he added. |
| Armed forces minister Nick Harvey denied there had been any U-turn, saying the covenant was being written into the Armed Forces Bill. | |
| "For the first time we are actually defining the covenant and what it means," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
| 'Backs to the wall' | 'Backs to the wall' |
| Meanwhile, another charity, the Army Families Federation (AFF), says it has been inundated with outraged messages following a tightening of the rules on the continuity of education allowance (CEA). | Meanwhile, another charity, the Army Families Federation (AFF), says it has been inundated with outraged messages following a tightening of the rules on the continuity of education allowance (CEA). |
| The CEA enables military families, who are often on the move, to claim boarding school fees of up to £5,833 per child per term, but the rules on who can apply have been changed. | The CEA enables military families, who are often on the move, to claim boarding school fees of up to £5,833 per child per term, but the rules on who can apply have been changed. |
| It is claimed by 5,500 military personnel, fewer than 3% of total service personnel, costing the MoD £180m a year. The government says the changes in the system would save £20m a year. | It is claimed by 5,500 military personnel, fewer than 3% of total service personnel, costing the MoD £180m a year. The government says the changes in the system would save £20m a year. |
| But the AFF says it has received 2,000 complaints by e-mail in five days over the cuts, including some from soldiers expressing a sense of betrayal. | But the AFF says it has received 2,000 complaints by e-mail in five days over the cuts, including some from soldiers expressing a sense of betrayal. |
| One read: "People have their backs to the wall and have no way of defending themselves. Pay freeze, loss of child benefit, tax increases, cost of living increases, the continual pressure of contemporary military life, allowance cuts, changes to CEA entitlement (or worse); when will it end? | One read: "People have their backs to the wall and have no way of defending themselves. Pay freeze, loss of child benefit, tax increases, cost of living increases, the continual pressure of contemporary military life, allowance cuts, changes to CEA entitlement (or worse); when will it end? |
| "The government has directed that the armed services will be cut. They need to be made aware that they may end up with no armed service left at all!" | "The government has directed that the armed services will be cut. They need to be made aware that they may end up with no armed service left at all!" |
| Julie McCarthy, chief executive of AFF, said: "For many families, including ourselves, there's a substantial personal contribution but all of these costs are not going down, the demands are not going down but the allowances are." | Julie McCarthy, chief executive of AFF, said: "For many families, including ourselves, there's a substantial personal contribution but all of these costs are not going down, the demands are not going down but the allowances are." |
| She said if her 11-year-old son was not at boarding school, he would have attended five different schools by now. | She said if her 11-year-old son was not at boarding school, he would have attended five different schools by now. |
| The effects of cutting allowances were leading some to consider quitting, she said. | The effects of cutting allowances were leading some to consider quitting, she said. |
| 'Economic mess' | 'Economic mess' |
| The government points to a recent rise in the operational allowance for those on the front line, but also says it is having to make savings right across the board. | The government points to a recent rise in the operational allowance for those on the front line, but also says it is having to make savings right across the board. |
| Mr Harvey said: "The Liberal Democrat manifesto included a commitment to increase military pay and to accelerate the programme of improving housing. | |
| "Now, of course, if we were in a more benign financial climate it would have been possible to make progress on both those things and I deeply regret that it has not been possible to. But the fact of the matter is the country is in a huge financial crisis. | "Now, of course, if we were in a more benign financial climate it would have been possible to make progress on both those things and I deeply regret that it has not been possible to. But the fact of the matter is the country is in a huge financial crisis. |
| "Sadly it's a hard truth that we have had to make reductions to allowances. Nobody should be surprised it's having an impact on morale." | "Sadly it's a hard truth that we have had to make reductions to allowances. Nobody should be surprised it's having an impact on morale." |
| Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the support we provide to them is focused on the most important areas, given the current financial situation. | Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans Andrew Robathan said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that the support we provide to them is focused on the most important areas, given the current financial situation. |
| "Changes that we have made, for example raising the operational allowance and increasing support to deal with mental health illness, show how we are focusing on the biggest issues." | "Changes that we have made, for example raising the operational allowance and increasing support to deal with mental health illness, show how we are focusing on the biggest issues." |
| Meanwhile, the British Legion has also called on the MoD to hand over personal details of soldiers leaving the forces so that they can be helped into civilian life. | Meanwhile, the British Legion has also called on the MoD to hand over personal details of soldiers leaving the forces so that they can be helped into civilian life. |
| Director of welfare Sue Freeth said with the right details, they could prevent vulnerable former soldiers from falling into lives of crime, drug and alcohol abuse. The MoD said it had to respect privacy. | Director of welfare Sue Freeth said with the right details, they could prevent vulnerable former soldiers from falling into lives of crime, drug and alcohol abuse. The MoD said it had to respect privacy. |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you wish to remain anonymous, we will respect your anonymity. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you wish to remain anonymous, we will respect your anonymity. |