William Eichler 08 April 2025

Extra support for military personnel ‘lottery’

Extra support for military personnel ‘lottery’ image
© Bumble Dee / Shutterstock.com.

Military personnel and their families face a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing local services, a report by the Commons Defence Committee has revealed.

The committee found that the Armed Forces Covenant is ‘inconsistently applied’, and that the experiences of service personnel ‘vary considerably as a result.’

The Armed Forces Covenant commits public bodies, such as local authorities, to ensuring those who have served in the military receive special recognition or treatment.

However, some personnel told the committee that they felt the covenant was ineffective or had even been disregarded in some cases.

Mark Atkinson, representing the Royal British Legion, said that while some councils fulfil their duties under the covenant, others do not.

‘When you speak to local authorities, there is a real distribution of views about what the covenant means and how it should be applied,’ he said.

Committee chair Tan Dhesi MP said: ‘When the Covenant works – it works well…But this is a lottery, made worse by the unpredictability and mobility of service life.’

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, backed a call from the committee for more guidance on delivering covenant duties, but added that councils need to be adequately funded to deliver it.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Executive Director – Adult Social Care, Health & Wellbeing

Sefton Borough Council
£131,208 (Hay 1)
Lead with Purpose. Build on Excellence. Shape the Future of Health and Wellbeing in Sefton. Sefton (Metropolitan borough), Merseyside
Recuriter: Sefton Borough Council

Strategic Finance Business Partners (five roles)

Nottingham City Council
up to £80k
Nottingham is a bold, vibrant, and exciting Core City at the heart of the UK, alive with potential and ambition. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Director of Finance (Strategy) – deputy S151

Nottingham City Council
up to £125k
Nottingham is a bold, vibrant, and exciting Core City at the heart of the UK, alive with potential and ambition. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Nottingham City Council

Customer Specialist

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum
Customer SpecialistPermanent, Part Time£25,081 pro rataLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Customer Specialist

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum
Customer SpecialistPermanent, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 pro rataLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner