FIGHT FOR VETERAN EQUALITY COMES TO PARLIAMENT

FIGHT FOR VETERAN EQUALITY COMES TO PARLIAMENT

UK GOVT MUST ACT ON VETERAN INEQUALITY

Jamie Hepburn, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, has welcomed representatives of the Equality for Veterans Association to the Scottish Parliament, in support of their campaign to introduce equal pension rights for those who served in the forces before 1975.

At present, UK Government rules mean that any armed forces veteran who served for fewer than 22 years and discharged before 1975 do not qualify for a service pension. The campaign calls for pension rights for all veterans based on years of service and related, pro rata, to pensions received by contemporaries who completed 22 years of service. Jamie’s actions come after Cumbernauld resident Graham MacDonald, who is affected by the current rules, contacted him about the issue.

Among the signatories on the petition, currently in the Scottish Parliament, were First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP, and Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Communities.

Commenting, Jamie Hepburn MSP said:

“Giving all armed forces veterans equal pension rights is a simple matter of justice. Veterans have risked their lives to keep their country safe, and it is only right that the state should take care of them in their retirement.

“I’m pleased to see the level of support the group have been able to win from Members of Scottish Parliament, and I hope this will add pressure to the campaign. The cause has been consistently supported by SNP MPs at Westminster, so it is good that the Scottish Parliament can be brought on board as well.

“With a new UK Government taking office, the Ministry of Defence should be looking at this issue again, and trying to find a way to provide fair pensions to all veterans that reflect their length of service irrespective of when that service took place.”