16.1 |
The welfare of Service Personnel
179.
In his
evidence to the Inquiry, AM Pocock questioned whether Professor
Dandeker
was right
to suggest that the Harmony Guidelines were an appropriate basis
for
assessing
the effect of operational deployment on
individuals.115
The
Guidelines had
been
derived in a straightforward way from the planning assumptions used
in SDR 98
(“what
operations have we got? How many people have we got? … that means
that they
can spend
this long away”). AM Pocock’s focus had been on the broader
relationship
between
time deployed on operations and the risk of mental health
issues.
180.
Lt Gen Palmer
told the Inquiry that, while his “prime concern” with regard
to
reducing
tour intervals was for individuals, he was also concerned that
reduced tour
intervals
could affect operational capability, as units would not be able to
undertake
collective
training and other development and preparatory
activities.116
181.
In September
2007, in response to growing concerns that the military
covenant
was being
steadily undermined, the Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its
“Honour
the
Covenant” campaign.117
The RBL
argued that the covenant was being breached with
respect to
three key issues:
•
the
operation of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme;
•
healthcare
and welfare support for serving Service Personnel, their
dependants
and
veterans; and
•
support for
bereaved families at inquests.
182.
In July 2008,
partly in response to that campaign and the support it
generated,
the Government
published a command paper entitled The
Nation’s Commitment:
Cross‑Government
Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and
Veterans
(known as the
Service
Personnel Command Paper).118
The paper
was underpinned
by two
principles:
•
to end any
disadvantage that armed service imposes upon Service
Personnel,
their
families and veterans; and
•
to better
support and recognise those who have been wounded in the
service
of their
country.
183.
The paper
covered a wide range of topics: compensation, health,
housing,
education
and skills, transport, support for families, benefits, careers and
pay.
115
Public
hearing, 19 July 2010, pages 68-70.
116
Public
hearing, 16 July 2010, page 77.
117
House of
Commons Library, Standard Note SN/IA/5979, 9 June 2011,
Armed
Forces Covenant.
118
Command
Paper, July 2008, The
Nation’s Commitment: Cross-Government Support to our
Armed
Forces, their
Families and Veterans, Cm
7424.
35