Five Point Plan for Veterans

We want Scotland to be the best part of the United Kingdom to be a veteran. Many of the issues veterans face, such as housing, healthcare and jobs, are devolved.

This plan sets out clear, practical steps the Scottish Government should take.

Reducing bills for our veterans

By giving them access to empty married quarters in Scotland at a discount rate of rent and doubling the size of the Scottish Veterans Fund to provide cost of living support to those who need it.

Securing jobs for our veterans by establishing a Veterans Guarantee

This would ensure a training programme, educational placement, apprenticeship or job is secured for any veterans currently looking for work. We would also seek to establish a civil-service style fast stream service for veterans looking to work in the public sector.

Getting homes for our veterans

We would make it the law to give veterans priority when it comes to assessing homelessness applications and would establish a Scottish Government-backed fund to contribute towards the purchase of a veteran’s first home.

Giving our veterans the healthcare they deserve

By reinstating funding for Veterans First Point services in health boards that have reduced these services and ensuring this programme is rolled out nationally so that all veterans have better healthcare available to them. We would also set up Scotland’s first dedicated nationwide Mental Health Hub for Veterans.

 A Bill to support our veterans

We would pass legislation targeted to support our Armed Forces and the wider defence community. This Bill would enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant into law for devolves areas of responsibility and prevent the Scottish Government from making policies that harm our defence industry, like the ban on public funding being used to support manufacturing munitions. It would also include Meghan Gallacher’s proposals to create a new criminal offence for vandalising war memorials, if the proposals are not passed by the Scottish Parliament in this session.