AFC0070

Written evidence submitted by COSLA.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) represents Scotland's 32 local councils nationally. 

COSLA on behalf of its member councils welcomes the opportunity to provide a response to the UK Parliament’s Defence Committee’s Inquiry on the Armed Forces Covenant.

Background

Across Scotland the Armed Forces Covenant has provided a successful framework for bringing together key stakeholders in local authority areas to fulfil our shared commitment to support the Armed Forces and Veterans community. It has also helped focus attention where it is most needed particularly in respect of housing, health, employment and wellbeing.

Local authorities support veterans and their families to adjust from the Armed Forces to civilian life, including money advice, employment support, housing, schools and health and wellbeing services.   The Armed Forces Community Covenant also helps in bringing relevant partners together to provide their contributions.

In Scottish local authorities, services are aware of the need to ensure that armed forces service personnel, their families and veterans are treated fairly in accessing services and not disadvantaged.  As well as special consideration being provided for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

• Areas Where the Covenant is Working Well

The covenant covers education, housing and healthcare effectively where resources are available for local authorities and their partners.  We are also aware that our member councils deliver a number of valuable initiatives to contribute to the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant. A selection of these initiatives are briefly highlighted below as examples.

Examples of Practice Across Scottish Local Authorities

• Argyll and Bute Council provide a dedicated Service Pupil Advisor to support young people, lunchtime clubs and Armed Forces Ambassadors in schools and a welcoming booklet for Armed Forces families. 

• East Renfrewshire Council provide free gym memberships for veterans with mental health issues. 

• Inverclyde Council have a Veterans Network bringing together various groups.

• Moray Council have an initiative entitled, ‘The Dandelion Project’ - This supports Armed Forces children academically and socially. 

• Highland Council provide proactive support through the Military Liaison Group – Education and housing awareness training.

• South Lanarkshire Council have an Armed Forces Community Covenant Strategy 2024-2027 with a cross service working group to drive this forward.  This focuses on promoting the Covenant, providing employment support, and ensuring fair access to services.  We understand veterans also receive guaranteed interviews for advertised posts at South Lanarkshire Council too.

In summary, the Armed Forces Covenant provides targeted support that is additional and timely in order to support veterans and service personnel beyond what is available to the general public.  Many organisations also go above and beyond to facilitate veterans’ employment, including dedicated champions.  Additionally, the Armed Forces Covenant helps raise awareness and fosters collaboration with veterans’ organisations and charities.

• Areas Where the Covenant is Failing

We understand from our member councils that there is a need for other partners other than the local authority to be more active and committed in supporting the Armed Forces Covenant.  Additionally, immigration and employment are not covered by the Covenant, and we also understand there is a lack of awareness among some service personnel, particularly upon discharge from the Armed Forces of what is exactly available.

• Main Causes of Failings

There is a lack of sustainable resources to support and implement the Armed Forces Covenant. Public bodies struggle to fulfil Covenant requirements due to limited resources, despite their wish to do so.  Scottish local authorities also lead Community Covenants without any additional funding from the UK Government.

• Areas for Extension

The Armed Forces Covenant could potentially be extended to employment, pensions, compensation and immigration.  As well as dedicated welfare support for veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.

Additionally, the employment of ex-military service personnel should be encouraged with potential financial incentives. Support for families of service personnel should also be considered, especially regarding employment challenges after returning from overseas.

• Legislative Changes

The Duty for the Covenant could be amended to include new areas like immigration and employment.  Best practice should also be shared with recommendations that are fully funded to help roll it out to other local authorities and their community planning partners in Scotland.

Self evaluation and improvement planning by local authorities and their community planning partners should be supported.  We also understand that the Firm Base model supported by the Armed Forces was also a useful model across Scotland to bring together other partners.

It should be added that potentially more time is required to assess the impact of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty before considering further legislative changes, given it was only introduced a couple of years ago.

• Impact of Extending Legal Duty

The impact of extending the legal duty could ensure that the UK Government and Scottish Government provide additional funding to local authorities and their partners to deliver the Covenant locally.  

Additionally, funding for councils to undertake self evaluation programmes across their community planning partnerships in Scotland would be helpful to co-ordinate and improve support.

In summary, the Covenant has been a largely positive development and has encouraged partnership working and collaboration between the public sector, the Armed Forces, charities and voluntary organisations.

We trust our response will be helpful to inform the Defence Committee’s Inquiry on the Armed Forces Covenant.

20th February 2025