Help our veterans

Malcolm Jack’s article on veterans (“Hidden veterans must not be allowed to fall through the cracks”, 18 October) is a timely and welcome addition to the ongoing debate on how we look after our ex-servicemen and women properly.

Whilst most make the transition from the military to civilian life successfully, a significant minority struggle.

Since 1918 at least it has been the policy of successive British governments to pass on their post-service care to the charitable sector, help with some funding, and then wash their hands of the problem in the style of Pontius Pilate.

This is not good enough. The crux of the problem in Scotland, where the Scottish Government follows established

UK practice, is highlighted in Mr Jack’s opening sentence, where he states there are “over 50 veterans organisations in Scotland alone”.

In fact, the figure is much greater than this, and many of these well-intentioned charities offer overlapping or duplicating services to the ex-military

community. This is both wasteful of government funding and volunteers’ efforts and presents a bewildering choice to those in need of help. No wonder some do fall through the cracks.

It is high time the Scottish Government grasped the bull by the horns and took the

problem in-house by establishing a Department for Veterans Affairs, properly staffed and funded and represented at ministerial level, as other countries like Australia, New Zealand and the US have done.

Only then will our military veterans get the services and support they deserve and the much-vaunted military covenant become more than a convenient soundbite for unctuous politicians.

LT COL STUART CRAWFORD Hailes Green, Haddington