Fox announces statutory military covenant

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The defence secretary has said the government is to put the military covenant into law.

Liam Fox told the Commons that men and women who are serving or have served their country deserve both respect and continuing support.

However, he stressed the legal basis of the covenant will be held to account by the Commons and the public and constructed in such a way as to avoid enshrining rights that could be open to court challenge.

Amendments will be introduced into the armed forces bill already before Parliament - there will be an annual report on the covenant produced by the defence secretary.

The principles of the covenant will be enshrined in law for MPs to scrutinise through the annual report.

Fox announced £30m over four years to strengthen a "community covenant" between local authorities and the armed forces and veterans.

The new covenant will ensure that serving and former members of the armed forces "do not suffer disadvantage" and will be given special treatment "when appropriate".

Armed services personnel who are entitled to a 25 per cent discount on council tax will see that raised to 50 per cent, he told the House.

There will also be a new annual fund of £3m to support schools that have a significant number of forces children.

Fox paid tribute to the Royal British Legion and other charities that support veterans.

There will be a new veteran's card that will allow them to access commercial discounts, and servicemen who have suffered genital injuries will be entitled to three cycles of IVF if they wish to have children.

Fox said the covenant is between the people and the armed forces, not just the government, but that all departments will work together to improve access to both social housing and the private housing market.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy welcomed the announcement but said the government is "doing the right thing for the wrong reasons".

He accused ministers of facing "certain defeat" amid "enormous concern" around the country on the issue.

Murphy said Labour had introduced similar proposals earlier this year that the defence secretary and the cabinet voted against and branded defence minister Andrew Robothan as the "principal covenant denier".

He called today's announcement "an act of submission" by the government.

Fox replied that Labour's plans had little detail and were not costed.

"We took time to get the policies right," he said.

James Arbuthnot, chair of the defence select committee, welcomed the announcement but said the military are the only group who have to choose between decent equipment and decent housing.

Fox said equipment does not form part of the covenant because it is the government's job to provide that.

The covenant is a pact between the whole country and the armed forces, including charities, local authorities and individual citizens.

Former defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said the Royal British Legion has forced the government into retreat.

Stephen Gilbert (Lib Dem, St Austell and Newquay) asked what steps are open to servicemen and women if they feel the government is falling short.

Fox said any future government would be "fully exposed" to external pressure from both MPs and from service charities if they do not uphold the covenant.

Kris Hopkins (Con, Keighley), a former solider, accused the last government of "gross betrayal" of troops by sending them into battle without the right equipment.

Simon Hughes (Lib Dem, Old Southwark and Bermondsey) asked for assurances that veterans would be entitled to housing and healthcare.

Fox said he cannot give assurances on housing as the government does not provide provisions.

He said the covenant is not a set of rights but a statement that current and former service personnel will not be disadvantaged and in some cases will get special treatment.