Welsh Conservatives Debate - remembrance and the armed forces community

NDM9040 Paul Davies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the enduring importance of the remembrance period to families and communities in Wales.

2. Remembers and honours all those who have lost their lives and made sacrifices in the service of our country.

3. Acknowledges the tireless work of organisations, individuals and volunteers who support Wales's armed forces community and veterans.

4. Recognises the significant ongoing contribution that the military makes to Wales.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to support Wales’s armed forces community by:

a) ending veteran homelessness by requiring all Welsh local authorities and social landlords to give homeless veterans a top priority when allocating housing;

b) promoting engagement in the armed forces friendly schools programme to support service children;

c) increasing funding for Veterans NHS Wales to enable the appointment of permanent peer mentors in all Welsh health boards;

d) extending free bus travel to all military veterans; and

e) establishing a national military museum for Wales.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Heledd Fychan (South Wales Central)

Delete all after point 3 and replace with:

Regrets the detrimental impact of the previous UK Conservative Government’s austerity policies on support services for veterans.

Recognises:

a) the particular needs of veterans and the wider armed forces community in Wales; and

b) the work of Plaid Cymru MPs in supporting the application of the Armed Forces Covenant to treat veterans and their families fairly and with respect in society.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) give due regard to the needs of veterans in delivering public services in Wales, and support those who have been impacted by war and conflict; b) direct all health boards in Wales to embed peer mentoring for veterans into their mental health pathways and to ensure that best practice on mental health support for veterans is consistently applied on a pan-Wales scale;

c) publish the minutes of the most recent meetings of the Armed Forces Expert Group and provide an update to the Senedd on progress on the initiatives such as the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s pan-Wales scoping study on veterans’ homelessness in Wales;

d) make representations to the UK Government to address the issue of unclaimed pensions amongst the armed forces community in Wales;

e) make representations to the UK Government to exempt veterans from disability re-assessments; and

f) support efforts globally to resolve conflicts and build peace.

If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected.

Amendment 2 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all after point 4 and replace with:

Supports the need to endeavour to reach a peaceful solution to every conflict and bring an end to war, noting today’s uncertain world.

Remembers all who have lost their lives in wars and conflict, including civil casualties.