§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to provide grants to assist the work of St. Dunstan's in caring for men and women blinded in the service of their country. [58244]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonWe are very conscious of the great efforts made by organisations such as St. Dunstan's to assist former Service personnel, and know how greatly their work is valued both by the present service community and by ex-Service men and women.
However, it is the longstanding practice of central Government not to finance charities' core activities. Therefore, as with all registered charities, St. Dunstan's—as a wholly independent charity—raises its own funding.
Under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, there are powers for central Government to fund voluntary organisations whose activities support the Department of Health's policy objectives relating to 78W health, and personal and social services. However, the budget is finite and more applications are received than it is possible to meet. I am given to understand that an application from the Diana Gubbay Trust for the Blind which is administered by St. Dunstan's, and provides care for visually impaired people who are ex-members of the Armed Forces or civilian services but whose blindness is not attributable to their service has been received this year and will be given serious consideration.
The Government provide considerable assistance for disabled ex-Service personnel, including St. Dunstaners. Personnel deemed to have sustained a disability due to service in the Armed Forces qualify for a tax-free War Pension from the War Pensions Agency. In addition, most Service personnel are members of The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), which ordinarily pays an immediate pension on completion of 16 years' service in the case of officers and 22 years in the case of non-commissioned personnel. The AFPS also provides pensions to most Servicemen or Servicewomen who are medically discharged from their Service. Additional benefits may be paid if a disability is deemed to be attributable to or aggravated by Service. Attributable benefits are payable irrespective of length of service or whether the individual is a member of the AFPS.