§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities of the Veterans' Advice Unit since it was set up. [62125]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe Ministry of Defence Veterans' Advice Unit is a telephone advice line—telephone number 08456 02 03 02, charging callers at local rates which is listed in all telephone directories under "Ministry of Defence Veterans' Advice Unit".
The primary purpose of the Unit is to provide a telephone focal point for the UK's estimated 15 million ex-Service men and women and their dependants, acting as a signpost to advise callers where, when, and how best to obtain expert help on issues of concern to them. It aims to maximise the impact of current health care, social and welfare services provided by Government Departments, Agencies and non-governmental organisations.
The Unit is staffed by serving Warrant Officers specifically chosen for their ability to communicate across all sections of Service background and for their extensive 61W and wide range of experience. They have been specifically trained in telephone communication skills and have served attachments to TRBL's Legionline and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association's Forces Help inquiry line to learn at first hand from their experience in this field.
Since I opened it on 5 October, the Unit has taken about 1,500 calls and the rate of calls has risen over time as awareness of the Unit's existence becomes more widespread. Most calls can be dealt with immediately, but some require investigative work and a subsequent call back to the inquirer.
The range of problems dealt with has been diverse, including Home care and Housing, Falklands and Gulf War issues, Finance, the Tracing of Relatives, War Graves and Historical records, among others. However, the largest number of calls have concerned Pensions, Employment, the Provision of Medals and information about the Unit itself.
Since the launch, some 90,000 leaflets publicising the Unit have been distributed through Resettlement Offices, The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO), The Royal British Legion, SSAFA-Forces Help and other veterans' organisations and charities including the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA), the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) and the Regular Forces Employment Association, among others. Copies of the leaflet have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The leaflet has been, or is being, sent to DSS Benefit Offices nationwide, the War Pensions Agency and Citizens Advice Bureaux. The MOD is continuing to look for ways in which the Unit can be publicised, including, for example, the possibility of displaying leaflets in Post Offices. The military media, such as Navy News, Soldier magazine, RAF News and the British Forces Broadcasting Service have carried items about the Unit.