Press Release 17 October 2007
MIDLOTHIAN MP CALLS FOR SCOTTISH SOLDIERS TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES
Midlothian MP David Hamilton has called upon the Westminster Government to work with the Scottish Executive to ensure that servicemen and women, as well as retired service personnel, are given fast-track access to essential public services such as healthcare and housing throughout Scotland.
Speaking during a six hour debate on the UK Defence Policy on 16 October, David Hamilton pointed out that in England soldiers are given preferential treatment on the NHS. However no such arrangements have been made in Scotland.
Talking about access to healthcare in the debate he said: “although there is a fast-track procedure in England and Wales for service personnel and former service personnel, no such distinction is made in Scotland. Personnel from a Scottish regiment based in a Scottish area are treated differently when they get home.”
He called on the Government in Westminster and Edinburgh to work together to ensure that “when our troops come home, whether to Glencorse or somewhere in England or Wales, they are treated exactly the same.”
David Hamilton will now lead a delegation of Scottish MPs to meet with Ministers at the MoD to discuss these issues.
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