§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the advantages of introducing a United Kingdom equivalent of the American Ministry for ex-Service Affairs; and if he will make a statement. [7495]
§ Dr. ReidThe Government are giving very careful and detailed consideration to the proposals for an ex-Service Affairs Unit and will be looking into the matter in some detail.
In doing so, we will have regard for the fact that many of the benefits offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs are already available to ex-Servicemen in this country under the National Health Service, the War Pensions Agency and other elements of our social security system.