Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has welcomed Government confirmation that army veterans based in Northern Ireland will benefit from the £25 million healthcare fund for aged veterans announced in the Budget.
Lord Empey said:
“Following the Chancellor’s Budget announcement I asked the Government whether army veterans based in Northern Ireland would benefit from millions of pounds to be raised from LIBOR funding.
“I was very encouraged by the response from Lord Astor of Hever, who responded on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
“Lord Astor stated that ‘the UK's ex-Service community is largely elderly; almost half are over age 75 and 64% are over age 65.’ I fully agree with him that it is important that this country meets their needs, just as they answered the needs of their country and I welcome the news that to support this community, £5 million of LIBOR funding has been made available every year for the next five years for any UK veterans who are surviving World War Two veterans, those who undertook National Service and other voluntary enlisted veterans who, by virtue of their age, may need some focused support in relation to their health and social care needs.
“The Ministry of Defence intends to administer the fund through a dedicated grant scheme, the terms of which are being developed and will be announced in due course and I note that these funds ‘will not provide benevolence payments to individuals’ but that ‘Charities can bid for money to provide practical support and/or companionship to this group of veterans to improve their wellbeing.’
“I shall therefore be seeking further details as to how this scheme will operate and the Ulster Unionist Party will be encouraging local charities to avail of it and ensure that Northern Ireland based veterans benefit from it.
“Lord Astor identified projects including the building of enhancing ‘access to centres where elderly veterans can meet, or to promote the education of elderly veterans' needs, research and other support mechanisms” and I have no doubt that these would make a very positive contribution to enhance then lives of those who bravely served our Nation and who are entitled to our support.”