The above picture is part of a story that was featured in a Sunday newspaper last weekend.
I am a passionate supporter of rights for troops, and got to speak to some of those in Afghanistan when I visited last November, the blog post about this can be found here.
Since returning from Afghanistan, I have written to every council in the West Midlands asking whether they adhere to the military covenant, which outlines guidelines for supporting our troops and their families in a variety of ways, from health care to housing.
The service men and women that I spoke to in Afghanistan were worried about how their families were being treated back home, (taken from my original blog post in November) "Servicemen and women took the opportunity to voice their frustration at the lack of co-operation they and their families receive from public authorities and public services. Schooling for their children, dental and doctor registration are also problems. It was also pointed out that local authorities make no provision in respect of Council Tax when service personnel are on active duty. A tour of duty lasts approximately six months. Quality of housing for their families is also an issue. Nikki will be taking up these cases with local councils to make sure the ‘Military Covenant’ is implemented without delay. "
Although I have had positive responses from the councils in terms of them stating that they do recognise the military covenant, I do still hear that soldiers and their families are still having problems finding housing, and this concerns me greatly. I will continue to push for councils to do more to help those who are in the armed forces.
