Last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that Wales would receive £18 billion per year, the largest annual funding settlement since devolution began in 1999. This massive boost in funding is part of the UK Government’s plan to recover from the post-COVID recession, get people into jobs and back public services.
In addition to the £18 billion, the UK Government is investing £168 million in targeted projects that will make a real difference to people in Wales. Projects including a revitalisation of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, investment in transport infrastructure and support for fisheries will work towards levelling up Wales.
As with every budget there are big figures and announcements that dominate the headlines. Beneath those headlines there was an announcement that went under the radar – conformation that the UK Government would be funding a Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales.
For years ex-armed forces personnel in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England have all had their own Veterans Commissioner to champion their cause, offer guidance and stand up for their rights. Despite being a fixture in three other parts of the United Kingdom the Welsh Government opted against introducing a Commissioner here in Wales.
Since taking on the role of Chair for the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets in 2010, the issue that colleagues and I from across the political spectrum have pushed for is an Armed Forces Champion for Veterans in Wales. It has always been an issue that the Cardiff Bay Government simply would not budge on and, as a result, veterans in Wales have been disadvantaged compared to their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom.
And that is why I was so pleased to see that the commitment to introduce a Veterans’ Commissioner for Wales made by the Secretary of State for Wales in February of this year has been backed by the funding from the Treasury to make it happen.
Appointing a Commissioner will be a hugely important step for veterans and their families across the country and will help meet the UK Government’s ambition of making the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran. We owe it to those who sacrifice so much for our country, to provide them with the very best services and support and having a Veterans’ Commissioner in place in Wales will help to deliver them.
This is another great example of intergovernmental working between the UK and Welsh Governments. Now that the position has been established, I hope to see Welsh Ministers finally back the Veterans Commissioner that our Armed Forces community deserves.
As Remembrance Day 2021 approaches, let’s reflect on the important work that our Armed Forces are doing here in Wales, across the UK and around the world, and let us celebrate the fact that Wales will soon benefit, for the first time, from a Veterans’ Commissioner who will help to ensure that the service of those who serve in the military will continue to be recognised throughout their lives.
