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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
life again. Some families, of course, needed their VOs only briefly; others needed
them ... for really quite a long time.”28
38.  VOs were not generally specialists, but Service Personnel who were asked to
take on the role in addition to their regular duties because they were thought to be
suited to it.29
39.  In December 2002, following a number of high‑profile cases, the Army
acknowledged that its procedures for supporting bereaved families “fell short of modern
expectations” and introduced a number of changes, including:
CNOs and VOs were briefed to try to identify any issues that might affect
communications with the immediate and wider family (such as divorced or
separated parents). If necessary, a second or third CNO could be appointed.
All Notifying Authorities were instructed to maintain a pool of CNOs and VOs
“who must have attended a seminar at Brigade or Divisional level”.
Notification was to take place at any time of day or night, to avoid families
hearing the news from elsewhere.
The VO would remain in contact with the family as the focus for all
communication, as long as the family wished.30
40.  The Army refined that approach through 2003 and 2004, in the light of their
experience of supporting the families of Service Personnel killed in Iraq.
Immediate remedial action on bereavement procedures
41.  The prospect of military operations against Iraq prompted the MOD to bring forward
plans to extend some benefits to unmarried partners.
42.  Mr Hoon was advised on 26 February 2003 that, with conflict in Iraq looming, the
Government should end the uncertainty on whether unmarried partners of Service
Personnel were eligible for benefits in the event of their death.31
43.  Unmarried partners were not entitled to benefits under the Armed Forces Pension
Scheme (AFPS) and only certain unmarried partners were entitled to benefits for death
attributable to service under the War Pension Scheme (WPS). The MOD advised that
the new Armed Forces compensation and pension schemes would extend benefits
to unmarried partners (both heterosexual and homosexual) for attributable and
non‑attributable injury and death, but the new schemes would not be implemented
before 2005/06.
28  Public hearing, 21 July 2010, pages 48-49.
29  Public hearing, 21 July 2010, page 50.
30  Paper MOD, [undated], ‘The Army Investigations and Aftercare Support Cell (AIASC)’.
31  Iremonger to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 26 February 2003, ‘Unmarried Partners – Implications
for the Gulf’.
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