§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support is given to the widows and families of servicemen who have died. [66362]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence operates a comprehensive Casualty and Compassionate Reporting Policy that extends from the moment of casualty notification all the way through to making arrangements for stress counselling for partners, offering advice on eligibility for pensions, compensation or other financial support and helping with relocation arrangements for surviving dependants.
The MOD also provides an annual Grant-in-Aid to the Remembrance Travel Department of The Royal British Legion in respect of the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to any Service widow, whose husband died and was buried overseas between 1914 and 1967, to visit her husband's grave. The Grant contributes 7/8ths of the cost of a pilgrimage organised by Remembrance Travel and to date has benefited over 4,000 widows. The scheme has recently been extended to 31 March 2005.
Support to the bereaved partners and family of ex-service personnel also comes from the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association—Forces Help (SSAFA-FH) and the Armed ForceBenevolent organisations for whom the MOD has the utmost appreciation. We are very conscious of the tireless and highly professional way these organisations assist their former colleagues and know how greatly their efforts are valued both by the present Service community and by ex-Servicemen and women.