NOW END THIS RANK INJUSTICE
Armed Forces personnel based in Scotland warned they can’t go home for Christmas - while those based in England CAN...
THOUSANDS of members of the Armed Forces face being separated from their families at Christmas because of Scotland’s stringent coronavirus rules.
almost 10,000 personnel living on bases, barracks or stations north of the Border have been told by bosses they may not be allowed to travel home during the festive period.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said they must ‘avoid all but essential travel’ and urged them to stick to scottish Government rules.
National restrictions introduced by SNP ministers set out that nobody in mainland scotland should enter another household to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
It means people in the army, Navy or raf could be forced to stay separated from their families rather than being allowed to use Christmas leave to travel to their permanent residence as normally happens.
SNP ministers have been urged to publish clear guidance giving them an exemption or announce a special mass testing and quarantine plan, similar to the one for students.
MoD officials say guidance published by the Uk Government in england provides a clear exemption for its personnel who live south of the Border, but the same does not exist in scotland.
The MoD believes guidance for england makes clear that barracks and bases are considered places of work – but no similar guidance exists in scotland, so they are being considered main residences.
similar to students, armed forces
personnel staying in barracks are consid- ered a separate household under the law.
the Scottish Government last night dismissed the MoD’s concerns and added more confusion by insisting the rules were ‘crystal clear’ that Armed Forces could travel from barracks to their home for Christmas.
Conservative MSP for highlands and Islands edward Mountain, who served in the Blues & Royals regiment for 12 years, said he has had reports of forces personnel being told not expect to be able to return home for Christmas. he said: ‘My understanding is that people who are based away from home are in accommodation which is classed as their home and they cannot travel to another household.
‘If they can’t travel home, they will often be in pretty utilitarian accommodation with little chance of a Christmas lunch or spending time with family, and that will be difficult.’
he said many will have been posted away from their families and will have been looking forward to seeing them at Christmas, and added: ‘Considering that many of them will have been helping in the battle against the pandemic, it is only right that we find a way to make this happen.
‘ I believe a testing system should be considered to allow armed services personnel to travel home, which in many cases will be a long way away from where they are currently serving. having been in this position myself as a former soldier, I know how lonely it can be when you can’t return home to enjoy a brief respite from all the rigours of service.’
Official figures show that there are 9,820 military personnel based in Scotland, out of 156,970 across the UK. Many of those stationed in Scotland are from other parts of the UK, while many Scots also work from bases south of the Border.
Any Scots based south of the Border would also need to adhere to the Scottish Government rules if planning to visit family in Scotland.
An MoD source said: ‘Defence personnel are required to observe the regulations in force in the area they are in.
‘Guidance for england currently states that movement for work that cannot be undertaken at home/remotely is permitted to continue, and therefore movement from a base or place of work to a permanent residence is permissible.
‘We continue to work closely with the devolved administrations on what this means for our personnel in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and to remain consistent with their advice.’
the Scottish Government’s rules state: ‘You should not meet anyone who is not in your household indoors in your home or in their home.’
Specific guidance for students living in university accommodation set out that they should not return to the family home. It said: ‘As you have formed a new household within your student accommodation, this means that you cannot stay overnight at another household.’
But the Scottish Government last week announced plans to offer 30-minute coronavirus tests for students returning home for Christmas and also asked them to selfisolate for two weeks before travelling. however, no similar guidance has been published for members of the Armed Forces and no Christmas holiday plan has been set out.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘ We will be engaging with the MoD to ensure they are equally clear on the meaning of our rules.’
‘I know how lonely it can be’