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Mr Mercer told the Daily Express other political parties treat former military personnel as a \u201ccampaigning tool\u201d because \u201ceverybody likes veterans and everybody likes to talk about veterans\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe ambition is to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran. We are getting there but we’re not there yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s more to do. I want to safeguard everything that we’ve done over the last 12 months and formalise it so it can’t be undone if there are changes in political conversations in this country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s always more to do and we’ll have more to say about that when the programme for the next Parliament comes up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ministers have reinstated the Veterans\u2019 Mobility Fund to provide seriously injured former personnel with specialist mobility equipment.<\/p>\n
The \u00a32.52 million Government scheme will help veterans get specialist wheelchairs and mobility scooters and different orthotics such as splints and braces.<\/p>\n
Government funding for the scheme had run out after years of being under-subscribed, Mr Mercer said, with charity Help for Heroes making up the shortfall.<\/p>\n
But the Veterans minister said Rishi Sunak\u2019s Government has transformed help for Britain\u2019s war heroes.<\/p>\n
Mr Mercer said: \u201cEverybody likes veterans and everybody likes to talk about veterans because they’re good at elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is still a massive gap between moving from that to the intellectual application of policy and the Governmental structural changes you need to make sure that veterans themselves feel like you value them.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this Government under this prime minister has very clearly done that with the Office of Veterans Affairs and a cabinet minister responsible for Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are of course yet to see that from other parties who still see veterans simply as a campaigning tool. But that’s what elections are all about – people can make their own minds up.\u201d<\/p>\n
James Needham, CEO of Help for Heroes: \u201cThe reinstatement of the Veterans\u2019 Mobility Fund will make a vital difference to the lives of those injured during their military service, and it is great news that our charity has been recognised and trusted to deliver this fund.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a result of a joint two-year campaign by Help for Heroes and Blemsa, and wounded veterans will be pleased that the UK Government has listened and reinstated this life-changing fund.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Tottenham scout resigns months after appointment following TV gaffe<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe are now working quickly and carefully to establish a robust programme so we can open the fund to eligible veterans by March 2024.”<\/p>\n The Government is also rolling out ID cards to every veteran in the UK. The first veterans who left the British Army, the Royal Air Force or the Royal Navy before 2018 received their first ID cards last week.<\/p>\n It will allow them to prove their status, giving them easier access to key support from the NHS, charities and local authorities.<\/p>\n They can also be used to apply for Defence Discount Service Cards and the Veterans Railcard.<\/p>\n Mr Mercer hopes the Government will roll out 50,000 ID cards to veterans every month.<\/p>\n And officials will now begin work on a \u201cdigital\u201d ID card.<\/p>\n But Mr Mercer told the Daily Express it is part of a package of policies designed to improve the lives of veterans in this country.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt’s all of these successive things. The programmes that look after them when they’re poorly, these programmes that get them into employment, the legislative side of things that have ended the vexatious nature of the investigations going on post-Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n \u201cRight across the piece, that is about making veterans feel valued. Resetting this country’s relationship with her veterans was my objective when I started down this path eight or nine years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is another part of that, you know, I hope it’s an important part.\u201d<\/p>\n Army veteran Paul Colling said: \u201cI\u2019m delighted the government has decided to reinstate the VMF and award it to Help for Heroes and Blesma.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing able to access the previous fund meant I was able to receive a specialist leg brace -something I couldn\u2019t afford on my own – which prevented me from going through a leg amputation.<\/p>\n \u201cThat brace, and the efforts of Help for Heroes, has enabled me to walk again.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"