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| Britain 'failing armed services' | Britain 'failing armed services' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Britain is failing in its duty of care to its armed forces and former servicemen and women, the Royal British Legion has said. | Britain is failing in its duty of care to its armed forces and former servicemen and women, the Royal British Legion has said. |
| The legion is now calling for a just compensation scheme, more support for bereaved service families and a greater commitment to troops' healthcare. | The legion is now calling for a just compensation scheme, more support for bereaved service families and a greater commitment to troops' healthcare. |
| Its new UK-wide campaign also aims to highlight the military covenant - a pact between the nation and its forces. | Its new UK-wide campaign also aims to highlight the military covenant - a pact between the nation and its forces. |
| The legion said it was time to reward servicemen and women for their bravery. | The legion said it was time to reward servicemen and women for their bravery. |
| The Royal British Legion campaign - titled Broken Covenant - will focus on the need to boost medical care, strengthen the system of coroners' inquests to ensure swift closure for bereaved families, and provide more compensation - particularly for military personnel who suffer multiple injuries. | |
| While the covenant is not legally binding, the legion says it been enshrined through convention and custom, and represents "the nation's moral commitment to its armed forces." | |
| Frances Done, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: "We believe the nation has failed to live up to its commitments under the covenant, with the consequence that some people have been left to struggle alone once they leave the services. | |
| "Charities such as the legion are increasingly being called upon to fill the gap." | |
| Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth welcomed the campaign but said neither he nor military chiefs believed the covenant is broken. | |
| He said: "There are areas where we have already made significant progress, but we acknowledge that we must do more. These areas include mental healthcare for veterans, compensation, inquests and accommodation." | |
| He added the government was working with the NHS to develop a new model of community-based mental health care for veterans. |