The Scottish Conservatives say Scotland should feel “shame” that hundreds of veterans are homeless and thousands jobless this Christmas, as they unveiled a package of policies to tackle the problem.
Leader Russell Findlay and shadow housing secretary Meghan Gallacher joined former service personnel at a breakfast club in Johnstone today as they launched the party’s veterans’ paper.
The key proposals in the paper are:
- Reducing the bills of veterans by giving them access to unused married quarters for the first year after leaving service and doubling the size of the Scottish Veterans Fund
- Securing jobs for veterans by guaranteeing access to training, education or apprenticeships and establishing a civil service fast track for those seeking work in the public sector
- Giving veterans priority when it comes to assessing homelessness applications and establishing a Scottish Government-backed fund to help them buy their first home
- Reinstating funding for Veterans First in health boards and rolling it out nationally, and setting up Scotland’s first dedicated nationwide mental health hub for veterans
- Introducing a bill to support our veterans, which would enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant into law in devolved areas, and create a new criminal offence for vandalising war memorials
Scottish Conservative 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.”
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for veterans Edward Mountain said: “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.
“Our policies will help brave veterans access housing and healthcare – including establishing a dedicated mental health hub – and ensure their transferable skills are utilised with targeted career support and fast-tracked job opportunities.
“This package of measures demonstrates the Scottish Conservatives’ unwavering commitment to those who have defended our country.”