Forces to be given free education

Service personnel are to be given free university education, under plans to be unveiled this week.

The News of the World revealed on Sunday that a command paper to be published on the armed forces would include a proposal to pay the tuition fees of anyone who served for six years.

Under the plan the government would also pay for those leaving the Army, Navy or Air Force to study for GCSEs, A-levels or other qualifications.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the paper, expected to be published on Thursday, would "set out a range of measures to ensure that our armed forces, their families and veterans receive the best possible support right across government".

"It is the first time there has been a co-ordinated, cross-government strategy for delivering better access to key public services and greater welfare support for our armed forces community," he added.

"The command paper will help secure continuity of public services in areas like education, accommodation and NHS treatment."

Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the defence staff, said the command paper would also look at issues such as housing and access to NHS dentists and waiting lists.

He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show that forces' housing had suffered from "decades of underinvestment" while families also complained that the need to move around made it harder to receive health treatments.

Sir Jock added that he also expected the paper to provide a "firm commitment to deliver" on "disadvantages" suffered by those within the armed forces on these issues.

"I expect to see a firm plan for dealing with those and I expect to see a firm commitment to deliver," he said.

"That is what I expect from the command paper and that is what I think we will see.

"That tackles the issues that our own families tell us are the top of their concerns."