Welcome for Armed Forces Census move
FOR the first time in its history the Census is to feature a question on service in the Armed Forces following a campaign supported by Halton MP Derek Twigg MP.
Mr Twigg said he was ‘delighted’ the Government had announced it would amend the massive official population survey, which takes place once every 10 years.
A spokeswoman for the Halton Labour MP said the campaign was led by The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland.
She said the decision to include the question on the 2021 Census will provide the Legion, as well as public bodies, local authorities, and other military charities with valuable information to ensure they can best meet the needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families.
There are an estimated 2.4m veterans living in Great Britain, who are part of a wider ex-Services community including their spouses, partners, dependent children and widows and widowers, but little is known about the group’s exact numbers, locations and needs.
Welcoming the news, former veterans minister Mr Twigg said: “Having a better understanding of the profile and needs of veterans is a key part of making sure our public services are tailored for our Armed Forces community I welcome this historic change to the 2021 Census to include a question on the Armed Forces.”
Charles Byrne, Royal British Legion directorgeneral, said: “This is an extremely proud moment for the Legion.
“After leading a successful campaign, the fact that a military question will be in the 2021 Census will significantly improve our understanding of the Armed Forces community which up until now has been very limited.
“It will ensure that we, along with other charities and service providers, can deliver the best service possible to them when and where it is needed most.
“This is something we have been striving towards for many years, it will have a huge impact on service personnel, veterans and their families well into the future, as the outcome will allow us to provide more effective care and support to those who are in need.
He added: “We are delighted and are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the campaign and helped us to achieve this historical success.”
Find out more at the Royal British Legion website or search social media using the #countthemin hashtag.