- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4007 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, whether it will list the Scottish-based members of the Veterans’ Programme Scotland (VSP) Steering Group, also showing the name of the organisation that each represents; when the VSP Steering Group (a) last met and (b) will next meet, and what information it has about the programme of activities planned by the Ministry of Defence in relation to veterans in Scotland.
Answer
The VeteransProgramme (Scotland) Steering Group is chaired by an official from the SocialInclusion Division of the Scottish Government and the membership list includesrepresentatives from PoppyScotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland, ERSKINE,Scottish Veteran’s Residences, Veterans Scotland, the Service Personnel andVeteran’s Agency in Scotland, as well as officials from the MOD Veterans PolicyUnit in London.
The SteeringGroup last met on 19 February 2007 and will next meet on 23 October 2007.
The VeteransProgramme and the Veterans Programme (Scotland) sets outthe Ministry of Defence’s intended programme of activities in Scotland and the rest of the UKand outlines how cross-Governmental co-operation and close liaison withveteran’s organisations can best meet the needs of the veteran’s community. Thepurpose of the Veterans Programme Scotland Steering Group is to achieve theseaims with specific regard to the different political and legal positions in Scotland. Further information about the Veterans Programmecan be found at:
http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_programme/vets_programme.html.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4009 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, what consideration has been given to the setting up and funding of pilot schemes in Scotland in order to develop a range of services to bereaved families of armed services personnel killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Answer
Given theexisting services that are in place, the Scottish Government has no plans toset up and fund pilot schemes in Scotland in order todevelop a range of services for bereaved families of armed forces personnelkilled in Iraq or Afghanistan.
However, as theCabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing said in her answer to the question S3W-4009on 12 September 2007, the Scottish Government welcomes anyopportunity to discuss the many needs of Scotland’s veterans and their families. I have therefore arranged to meet with Ron Smith, Chairmanof Veterans Scotland, on 3 October 2007, when thosematters will be on the agenda.
All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4011 by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007, whether its close liaison with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) includes regular meetings of representatives of the Executive, the MoD and Scotland’s veterans’ organisations and, if so, when the last such meeting took place, when the next is scheduled and whether it will publish the names of those attending.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Government’s Social Inclusion Division chair the Veterans’ Programme (Scotland) Steering Group which last met on 19 February 2007 and will meet again on 23 October.
As well as officialsfrom the Scottish Government, Ministry of Defence and the Service Personnel andVeterans Agency, this meeting is also regularly attended by representatives fromPoppy Scotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland, ERSKINE, Scottish Veterans Residencesand Veterans Scotland.
Officials of the ScottishGovernment and the Ministry of Defence have also recently met, on 31 August, andwill meet again on 24 October 2007. Officials also meet regularlywith representatives of Scottish veterans organisations, the last such meeting beingwith a representative of Poppy Scotland on 6 September to discuss supported employmentfor veterans.
Furthermore, officialsfrom the Scottish Government attend the Veterans’ Forum, chaired by the UK Minister for Veterans, at which the Devolved Administrationsand a range of veterans’ organizations from across the United Kingdom (including Veterans Scotland, Combat Stress and PoppyScotland) are represented. The last meeting of the forum was on 15 June 2007 with the next meeting scheduled for 4 December 2007.
A full list of attendeesand the minutes of the forum can be found online at
http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_programme/vets_forum.html.Scottishministers are also invited to attend the Veterans Taskforce, again chaired by theUK Minister for Veterans, but in recent years have beenunable to attend.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been received from COSLA, voluntary organisations and other interested parties anent the construction of affordable social housing for former members of the armed services wounded or injured in Iraq or Afghanistan or during United Nations peace-keeping operations and others discharged as a result of injuries or illnesses suffered whilst serving with the armed forces.
Answer
There have been norecent representations on these issues.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the appropriate authorities and interested parties concerning the employment of former service personnel discharged from the armed services as a result of wounds or injuries they have suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Answer
Employment isreserved to the UK Government. In addition, the MOD have responsibility for theresettlement, which includes employment opportunities, of former servicepersonnel who have been medically discharged.
There have beenno discussions specific to this group. However, Poppy Scotland has beeninvolved in wider discussions about supported employment for peopledisadvantaged in the labour market, particularly people with disabilities.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has sought from the Ministry of Defence anent the treatment, care, rehabilitation and rehousing of service personnel discharged from the armed services as a result of wounds and injuries suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Answer
The Scottish Governmenthas not sought funding from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in relation to the treatment,care, rehabilitation and re-housing of service personnel discharged from the armedforces as a result of wounds or injuries suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Scottish Governmenthas, however, provided funding in recent years to Combat Stress in respect of itsHollybush House facility in Ayrshire. Moreover, the Scottish Government continuesto liaise closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Scotland’s veterans organisationsto establish how best the many needs faced by Scotland’s veterans can be met.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Ministry of Defence, NHS Scotland, COSLA and other appropriate organisations anent the treatment, rehabilitation and rehousing of service personnel severely wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Answer
There have been nospecific discussions on these issues. However, the Scottish Government, NHS Scotlandand the Ministry of Defence have regular contact on treatment and rehabilitationissues.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and NHS Scotland anent the recruitment of medical specialists and ancillary staff who have the most appropriate medical skills to treat service personnel who have suffered serious wounds in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Answer
There have been norecent discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Defence and NHSScotlandon this issue.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with ministers at the Ministry of Defence anent the treatment and care of service personnel wounded or injured recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Answer
The Scottish Government,NHS Scotland and the Ministry of Defence have regular contact on treatment and rehabilitationissues. However, there have been no recent discussions with ministers at the Ministryof Defence.
- Asked by: Trish Godman, MSP for West Renfrewshire, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the appropriate voluntary organisations and COSLA anent the provision of assistance and care for the families of service personnel killed in Iraq or Afghanistan where such help has been sought.
Answer
A range of servicesare available to bereaved families and loved ones, including provision by mainstreamsocial work services, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and veterans’ charities andorganisations. The Scottish Government will continue to liaise closely with theMoD and Scotland’s veterans’ organisations to look at how best we meet the needsof our veterans’ community. One way we achieve this is through chairing the Veterans’Programme Scotland (VPS) Steering Group which includes representatives from MoDand the major Scottish veterans’ charities.
In fully recognisingthese many needs faced by Scotland’s veterans, the Scottish Government welcomesany opportunity to discuss how best they can be met. To this end, Stewart Maxwell,Minister for Communities and Sport, has recently written to Ron Smith, Chairmanof Veterans Scotland, offering a meeting with him and his colleagues.
