Soldiers' families should get more help with healthcare and schooling and better accommodation, a commission set up by the Tories is set to recommend.
Soldiers' families should get more help with healthcare and schooling and better accommodation, a commission set up by the Tories is set to recommend.
The commission looked at ways of restoring the "military covenant", the government's duty of care to soldiers, which the Tories say has been "broken".
The commission looked at ways of restoring the "military covenant", the government's duty of care to soldiers, which the Tories say has been "broken".
Many personnel are thought to quit due to hardships faced by their families.
Many personnel are thought to quit due to hardships faced by their families.
The Tories are likely to accept most of the proposals. The government unveils its own plans in the next few weeks.
The Tories are likely to accept most of the proposals. The government unveils its own plans in the next few weeks.
The commission, chaired by the author Frederick Forsyth, was announced in March by Tory leader David Cameron, who said the military covenant had been "well and truly broken".
The commission, chaired by the author Frederick Forsyth, was announced in March by Tory leader David Cameron, who said the military covenant had been "well and truly broken".
NHS waiting list
NHS waiting list
The covenant says that members of the armed forces receive special care from society in return for the sacrifices they make.
The covenant says that members of the armed forces receive special care from society in return for the sacrifices they make.
Among recommendations in its interim report will be that the covenant is officially written into the rules of all three armed services - currently it only officially applies to the Army.
Among recommendations in its interim report will be that the covenant is officially written into the rules of all three armed services - currently it only officially applies to the Army.
Everybody seems to just take it for granted that they can make cuts where the military are concerned and then just rely on them to do their job Simon WestonFalklands veteran
Everybody seems to just take it for granted that they can make cuts where the military are concerned and then just rely on them to do their job Simon WestonFalklands veteran
Proposals will include help with maintaining military families' NHS waiting list places when they move around and improving their accommodation.
Proposals will include help with maintaining military families' NHS waiting list places when they move around and improving their accommodation.
Families of service personnel would be able take their waiting list position with them to a new area, and would be guaranteed access to an NHS dentist.
Families of service personnel would be able take their waiting list position with them to a new area, and would be guaranteed access to an NHS dentist.
Military families would also attract additional funding for their children's schooling.
Military families would also attract additional funding for their children's schooling.
'Live in squalor'
'Live in squalor'
Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who contributed to the Commission's inquiry, said successive government had reduced the armed forces' budget.
Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who contributed to the Commission's inquiry, said successive government had reduced the armed forces' budget.
"Everybody seems to just take it for granted that they can make cuts where the military are concerned and then just rely on them to do their job," he said.
"Everybody seems to just take it for granted that they can make cuts where the military are concerned and then just rely on them to do their job," he said.
Nobody within military circles has said the military covenant is broken Ministry of Defence spokesman
Nobody within military circles has said the military covenant is broken Ministry of Defence spokesman
"You can't just keep doing this to people who are risking their lives and then paying them a pittance, then expecting them to live in squalor, expecting them to use substandard equipment then expecting them to have second-rate health care when they come back."
"You can't just keep doing this to people who are risking their lives and then paying them a pittance, then expecting them to live in squalor, expecting them to use substandard equipment then expecting them to have second-rate health care when they come back."
Last year the Royal British Legion began its own "Honour the Covenant" campaign to highlight the problems faced by troops.
Last year the Royal British Legion began its own "Honour the Covenant" campaign to highlight the problems faced by troops.
In March, when the commission was launched, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Nobody within military circles has said the military covenant is broken, including the Royal British Legion.
In March, when the commission was launched, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Nobody within military circles has said the military covenant is broken, including the Royal British Legion.
"That does not mean that the government cannot do better. We strive constantly to ensure the armed forces have the best possible package of care. In the past few years we have made some significant improvements."
"That does not mean that the government cannot do better. We strive constantly to ensure the armed forces have the best possible package of care. In the past few years we have made some significant improvements."
Many of the ideas from the commission are believed to be similar to those being considered by the government.
Many of the ideas from the commission are believed to be similar to those being considered by the government.
Its plans to improve the welfare of the armed services are set to be unveiled in the next few weeks.
Its plans to improve the welfare of the armed services are set to be unveiled in the next few weeks.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Do you work in the military? Have you had problems with access to education and healthcare? What do you think of the plan? Send us your comments using the form below.
