 Ond dyna ni'n ddigonio sy'n gymbeddio ar loson 17535 yn y rhesnod Morrest Corre, ond g 물�i dech tonnes mor seidio. A gael gyda ni'n ddigonio, wedi cael ei g Complex Springs, mae ei arddill os y cwydd i'r lleidiau adeiladau. Mae ddweud e'n ddegonio i bwysig o'w ddegonio i ff busgio i ddegonio i gwyllï wrth ar gael eich ddegonio i ddegonio i bwysig o'u ddegonio i ddegonio i gwyllï, fel Yn Yn Yn Yn Ddegonio yddi. Can I first declare that I am an福利punk, a I'm great for those who stayed on after a fairly long session this afternoon in the chamber, for what really is a very pertinent debate on our forces. It is indeed an honour to open up to the members business this evening and to speak of the amazing work of the Unforgotten Forces consortium. When a person Sometimes when a person leaves the armed forces, they are leaving behind what feels like family. But often what can be most overwhelming are the burdens that they take with them when they return to so-called normal life. Of course most veterans transition well back into their communities but, whether experiencing physical injuries, loneliness or mental health issues, others require services which offer extra support. In Scotland we are so fortunate to have a multitude of charities and organisations which stand ready to help y wirfwyr yn defnyddio fitfawr. Mae gweithio bethau yw, mae cwestiynau o'r bwysig ymgrwys wahanol iawn i gyfreithio gyda chi i yn ddigibleiddio holl o'r briadau. Gweithio heatedrhe wahanol, mae'n defnyddio ychwan â'r bwysig ac mae'n urwennwch yn defnyddio cyddiadau i gael ei cyfrifocu y sameeth ac mae'n cyfrifocu gyda'u bydderamaeth pwyfyr. Fy sicr, cael y bethau stethau sydd ar y problema, mae'n rhaid i gael eich ystod yma For instance, an older veteran with hearing loss could also struggle with social isolation and the lack of daily interaction. With the Unforgotten Forces consortium, we can see one of the greatest examples of how an incredibly collaborative and cooperative response truly serves Scotland's older veterans. It connects both private and third sectors to offer veterans a wealth of support to tackle those issues. This consortium, which was established in July 2017, is a strong partnership between 16 organisations, both military and civilian, all of which are geared towards helping older veterans tackle their different needs. Kickstarted with a £4 million grant through the Age Veterans Fund, it has been given the task of delivering a three-year programme to support those veterans aged 65 and over, as well as their families across Scotland. With one year to go in its current phrase, it is clear to me, as it should be to all of us here tonight, that future funding for this project would be an investment in the quality of life for our older veterans. Put simply, it aims to increase the support that is available for those veterans. As a whole, the project seeks to provide both new and enhanced services covering health and wellbeing, social isolation, advice, practical help and arts engagement for older veterans. Simply listing some of the members of the consortium exhibits the range and sheer depth of their expertise, such as Poppy Scotland, Age Scotland, the Defence Medical Welfare Service, the Scottish Older People's Assembly, Fares for All, founded by David Gibson, who I believe is here today in the public gallery, the RF Association, Luminate, Music in Hospital and Care Scotland, Action on Hearing Loss, SAFSA, the Armed Forces Charity Citizens Advice Scotland, Erskine, ILM Highland, Scottish War Blinded, Legion Scotland and the University of Western Scotland. Those partners offer a complementary mix of emotional and paternal sport, which means that, together, they capture the entire wellbeing of the veteran. In promoting the interconnected collaboration through referral pathways, the consortium has made the best use of the charitable provision that already exists here in Scotland. Of course today I can only provide a flavour of the work of these charities as much as I wish I could cover them all and highlight a few samples now. The Defence Medical Welfare Service, whom I have had the pleasure of working with on several occasions, offers emotional and practical services along healthcare pathways. By lazing with their partners, they encourage referrals to local support services, which in turn helps veterans in their recovery and overall wellbeing. Moreover, Poppy Scotland, which leads the consortium, offers assistance and practical guidance to veterans and their families, as well as those still serving the Armed Forces. Since 2017, they have aimed to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation among older veterans by offering a breakaway service. That provides bespoke holiday packages for older veterans and their families. Indeed, I have read of trips ranging from London to the Highlands and even to Jersey. Furthermore, I could not speak more highly of the Erskine Activity Centre, which I very much enjoyed visiting last year in my own region, for older veterans based across Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, East and West and Bartonshire. Erskine provides there the opportunity to try out a variety of daily activities and offering workshops in woodwork, music and computing, among others. Those classes are a wonderful way of reducing loneliness and introducing older veterans to new skills that they perhaps never realised they had. In that way, the 16 organisations in the consortium function as a collaborative group that highlights their effectiveness and shared purpose. The benefits to the Unforgotten Forces project are immense and far-reaching. Its partner to co-operation means that veterans and their families face far less confusion and bewilderment when approaching an organisation for help. By taking the burden off their shoulders and sharing it across appropriate partners, it goes a long way to relieve the stress of being unsure who to turn to. In approaching one organisation, one is in effect reaching out to all the partner organisations. Its impact is absolutely clear. In its first 21 months, the consortium has provided 7,300 episodes of support to our older veterans, which is incredible. At the heart of the success is the efficiency and effectiveness of its referral pathway. The close link approach allows staff within the organisations to connect with each other at the national management level and at local grass roots level. As Glen MacDonald, Poppy Scotland's Unforgotten Forces co-ordinated said, it is a force multiplier. We see that the project has opened wide doors for conversation between the partners. They can more reasonably and readily discuss the best ways to provide a veteran support network. They can trade experiences and, indeed, expertise to find the right solution for each veterans' case. Quite rightly, the work and impact of the consortium has been met with the appreciative accommodation that it deserves. In April this year, the group won the 2019 Soldering on Award in the Working Together category for being a great example in its co-operative referrals. Surely accolades such as this speak of the need for Unforgotten Forces funding to be continued before June 2020. The combined efforts of our partners and its partners show that its good work deserves to be secured for the future. It will be a disservice to Scotland's older veterans if those enhanced services were limited in what they could offer. For that reason, I hope that both the Scottish Government and the UK Government will work closely with the consortium to determine the funding options that are available. To conclude, the impact of Unforgotten Forces project is clear. For those older veterans who need guidance and help, the consortium stands ready to come alongside and direct them to the right port of call. That approach seeks to capture both the mental and physical wellbeing of the veteran. With its current programme set to expire next year, it is very important that the funding that the consortium relies on is continued. We have to secure the future of both the Unforgotten Forces partnership and the veterans that it serves. Thank you very much, Mr Corry. Before I call Richard Lyle, you perhaps have noticed, perhaps not, that the minute and second hand clock cannot operate after five o'clock. Do not ask me why. It is technological. They put men on the moon, but we cannot do clocks. You will have to measure yourself in real time. It is 1913 military time just now, so you just have to have no thank you, Mr Lyle. I do not need your comments, so I am asking you to pay attention to that clock. You will be the exemplar of that. Mr Lyle, followed by Mr Mountain. I was going to ask how the clock had stopped. I thank Maurice Corry for bringing this debate to the chamber. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on particular Scottish War Blinded and Unforgotten Forces consortium. I thank Richard Baker for his illuminating briefing that highlighted the work undertaken by the Scottish War Blinded in its role as part of the Unforgotten Forces consortium. Making this contribution this evening is a very pestle thing for me. My support for Maurice Corry's motion comes from a general sense of social responsibility, but the subject also touches on my own life, both personal and professional. Like most, my family had a long history of servicing the Scottish Armed Forces. Indeed, my grandfather was a sergeant in the army during the First World War, and my father was in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Two generations of my family served my country, preserving our way of life for us, my children and my grandchildren. As a young boy, I served in the 2166 Hamilton squadron of the Air Training Corps. That was a surprise for many people. That experience helped shape the man I am today and gave me a small insight into what takes part in the forces and, in other words, what a person must be prepared to give. That is why, during my time as a local councillor, I made servicemen and women my priority. Eventually, I worked with North Lanarkshire Council to make sure that servicemen and women in my constituency were not put to an unfair disadvantage because of their service. We changed the rules to ensure that their housing application dates were inclusive of the time that was spent in the service of their country. They fought for us, so we should fight for them. Therefore, perhaps more than ever in these days, the work that charities like Unforgotten Soldiers Consortium are doing for our veterans is crucial. At a short 18-month life, the consortium, which has made up 15 separate charitable organisations, has collaborated seamlessly, touching the lives of newness, veterans and families in many different ways. Meeting an individual needs through pulling of ideas and resources, that success has been recognised by the Soldering On Awards for which I offer them my congratulations. It is heartening to think of a charity that will achieve in the future, when considering what it has already managed to achieve in its short time frame. As its name suggests, Scottish World Blinded worked tirelessly in the role of supporting veterans who have suffered sight loss as a result of injuries that are sustained while in action. In their activities as part of the consortium, they have been working alongside a Scotland action on hearing loss to improve the lives of hearing and sight impaired veterans. A specific group, when it one considers the research, has found a casual link between PD, PTSD and sight loss. The key to providing proper support in early intervention, subgroup of consortium have therefore been devising mechanisms to ensure that those needs specifically due to sight or hearing loss are identified as early as at a stage. They are working today as awareness among veterans in Scotland, only in the services that they offer, but also in the need to ensure that they get themselves screened. As such, they hope to aid the provision of veteran screening, encourage medical practitioners and issue certificates of visual impairment to ask the patients if they have served in the armed forces as a matter of course. I am proud to say that the Scottish Government has shown great support to its outstanding organisation and through its continued commitment demonstrates its gratitude and admiration for those who have served its country. I do not know how much time I have got left, Presiding Officer. One of the few things that all the members of this Parliament can agree on is that our veterans deserve to be cared for, given the contribution and the sacrifices that they and their families have made on our behalf. Cross-party group manforces veterans community demonstrates that the common will that exists across this chamber to meet those needs. I compliment the past members and the present members for the work that they do. The consortium has been building from the UK's Government's veteran strategy. In order to help with the development strategy that works for Scotland, CPG and the Scottish Government more generally have been meeting, discussing the needs, ideas, concerns and hope for the future of the consortium members and for veterans and their families. It is in that spirit that I offer my unreserved and on-going support to this motion and to the work of the unforced forgotten forces consortium. I thank Maurice Corry for bringing this motion to the chamber. Thank you very much, Mr Lyle. I call Edward Mountain to be followed by Jackie Baillie, Mr Mountain. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. It's always great to know that you're always going to be under four minutes and you're never going to be able to give me too much of a hard time, but at the outset I'd like to declare that I have an interest in this and that I am also like Maurice Corry officially a veteran. I'd like to thank my colleague Maurice Corry for securing this important debate, which recognises the achievements of the Unforgotten Forces consortium and calls on both the UK and Scottish Governments to review future funding options to guarantee this project for the long term. Let me set out why I think securing that funding is vital for our veterans. Since the Unforgotten Forces project launched in the summer of 2017, it has provided over 6,000 instances of support for veterans across Scotland, including free transport for essential travel, social support to counter-loneliness and to help with hearing loss. I'm delighted that the project has won the Working Together Award at the 2019 Soldering on Awards. That award was thoroughly deserved. Unforgotten Forces have helped so many veterans to live a full and satisfying life, and that should be reason enough for the Scottish Government to secure long-term funding for the project. I've seen the work of the Unforgotten Forces at first hand in the Highlands and Islands region. I was delighted to attend the launch of the Hearing Forces in Fort George last summer. This service aims to help veterans with their families and carers with hearing loss or tinnitus. It's a condition that affects many servicemen. Looking back to the day when I joined the army, we weren't issued with hearing aids, and I know from firing small arms and tank guns that it has affected my hearing, and I also suffer from tinnitus. I therefore have huge sympathy with those in the same boat, especially those who struggle to find—to adjust to living with hearing aids. That's why the work of Hearing Forces is so important. This service provides support for both before and after the hearing aids have been fitted, giving veterans the help that they need to get used to the hearing aids. There were too many veterans who put their hearing aids in a draw because they couldn't come to terms with the extra noise that they created. I'd also like to pay tribute to the ILM Highland, who operates the Highland Veterans handyman service, as part of the Unforgotten Forces project. This service helps veterans with odd jobs and small repairs around the home, which some find very difficult due to disability or limited mobility. Before I finish, how can I not mention the work of Poppy Scotland, the lead partner in the Unforgotten Forces consortium, and last year, they raised over £2 million from their Poppy appeal to help veterans and their families. Every year, I am proud to wear the Poppy, not just in remembrance of first world war losses, but also in recognition of every conflict since, in which our servicemen and women have sacrificed so much to defend this country. The Unforgotten Forces consortium makes a massive contribution to improving the quality of lives of veterans. I look forward to the minister setting out what sport the Scottish Government can commit to. The Unforgotten Forces consortium can continue its vital work for veterans, especially those in the Highlands and Islands and across all of Scotland. I thank Maurice Corry for bringing this debate to the chamber and, indeed, for all his work as convener of the cross-party group on armed forces and veterans. We had a very interesting presentation about the Unforgotten Forces consortium at the last CPG. By talking about the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Charlie Wallace, he recently released a report that tracked the progress of the Scottish Government in reaching the targets that are set by his predecessor. He stated that the areas of veterans care that need most improvement are predominantly in the areas where a joined-up approach to thinking and delivery is required, often across a number of bodies. The work of the Unforgotten Forces consortium since its establishment in October 2017 provides a shining example of the benefits that just such a cooperative approach across a number of bodies provides. Over halfway through the overall project, the consortium has so far recorded 7,200, 7,300, according to Maurice Corry instances of helping older veterans. It was good to see the consortium recognised for the success of their collaborative approach by winning the forces in mind trust working together award. They were also shortlisted for the best pioneering project category at the recent SCVO charity awards. Examples of the help that the consortium provides to veterans aged 65 and over include free transport for essential travel, advice about keeping their homes warm in winter, help with hearing loss, as we have heard from other members, practical and emotional support before and after discharge from hospital and social support to counter loneliness. Practical support provided by the consortium to veterans in their families is helping to improve their everyday lives. The minister rightly advocates a holistic approach to the support of veterans. I agree with him. The consortium's work has consistently provided that positive example of the benefits of just such a holistic approach to veterans care. The 16 bodies that have come together to work so effectively to support Scotland's veterans is something that we should celebrate. The project has proved to be a resounding success so far, and I am not going to name all 16 of them, as Maurice Corry did, but I do want to congratulate some of them. Poppy Scotland is the lead agency, Age Scotland, The Legion, Erskine, Scottish War Blinded, The University of the West of Scotland and many more besides. What they have done has been innovative but has been so important to the lived experience of our veterans. As things currently stand, the consortium is funded to the end of June 2020. That is not too far away, but after that the future of the consortium is unclear. Therefore, the question is what is next? Where can the consortium go from here? Can it improve further? Can the consortium's scope possibly be expanded to provide support to a wider range of veterans? It would be a mistake to lose the valuable services provided. The consortium has been such a positive example of supporting veterans through collaboration that it would be a travesty if it did not continue. Not only should the consortium continue to receive funding, but there is a strong case to be made that the funding should be increased in order to build on its success. At the very least, continuing to fund the consortium would provide a resounding statement of support for just this kind of collaborative approach. Ensuring that it can continue to have a positive impact on veterans' lives is vitally important. The veterans commissioner, the Government and the third sector are all in agreement that collaboration and co-operation are critical aspects of improving support for veterans. I hope that the minister will not just welcome what they have done so far, but that the minister will draw together a group of key people to drive forward access to funding so that the work of the Unforgotten Forces Consortium continues for many, many years to come. I call Graham Dey to close to the Government minister, please. Let me begin by congratulating Maurice Corry on bringing forward the spokesperson for the debate and members' further input to it. As ever with the deliberations on our armed forces in the veterans community, the tone and the approach has reflected the cross-party consensus that exists in this chamber, where I think that we share a common purpose in wanting the best for those who have served their country and indeed their families. Veterans are a great asset to our communities, and it is important to recognise that the vast, overwhelming majority of people who are leaving the military go on to lead highly productive lives. However, as we know, there are a number who struggle immediately post-service, others for whom issues emerge several years down the line, and then there are older veterans who experience age-related issues. Collectively, we owe them the best support that we can provide. Collectively, that is as Government, local as well as national, and working in partnership with an effective and highly regarded third sector. Here in Scotland, we have an extremely committed and close-knit set of veterans charities, and I am constantly impressed with what they do day to day to make a difference to the lives of our veterans and their families. The Unforgotten Forces Consortium, which also encompasses several non-military charities, is a great example of that, particularly in regard to our more aged veterans. One of the most striking things that I have found in engaging with charities in this area is the duty of care that they feel for those who approach them for assistance. If they cannot provide the help being sought, they do not just point the veteran in another direction. I have seen countless examples of charities personally guiding people, taking them through what can be a frustrating process to ensure that they source what they require by way of help. Both I and the Minister for Older People and Equalities have had the pleasure of meeting with Unforgotten Forces this year to learn about their work. I first met them in January in Ayrshire and then again when addressing their annual conference in Stirling in April. In both cases, it was great to hear about the good work that they have been undertaking and to discuss with them how the Scottish Government can support the veteran sector. We know that the overall population in Scotland is an ageing, and those who need help now present with far more complex needs, and our veterans community are not exempt from that. By bringing this group of charities together, some of whom are in the gallery tonight, Unforgotten Forces is able to provide seamless support for our veterans across a range of needs, while making greater use of available funds. For example, improving signposting, better cross referrals within organisations and cutting down on duplication. In particular, their emphasis on ensuring that those seeking help need to tell their story only once has been welcomed by veterans who want as hassle-free a pathway to support as is possible. The efforts in supporting our veterans community very much parallel what we in the Scottish Government are doing more widely across Unforgotten Forces three themes of physical wellbeing, sensory impairment, social isolation and loneliness. For example, in our efforts to support older people's physical wellbeing, the Government has provided nearly £1.7 million to the care inspectorate over the past few years to expand the successful care about physical activity programme to reach more areas of Scotland. The programme provides practical support and encouragement to care staff in building physical activity into daily activities and routines of those in care. I know that older veterans who have participated in the programme have benefited greatly and that ex-servicemen are also helping to bring their knowledge and expertise by leading activities in care settings. To support those veterans who find their eyesight failing in later years, we have been working with partners to update the guidance for the certificate of visual impairment. In the coming months, it will include asking whether an individual has served in the forces, including his reservists. If they have, it will signpost the patient to information that is Scottish War Blinded who is able to offer services in lifetime support irrespective of whether the condition is directly attributable to their time in the services. Another key part of our work across Government is driving progress to combat social isolation and loneliness throughout Scotland. We published our strategy on social isolation in December last year. We recognise that that can be an issue for some veterans in particular coming from a community that has historically emphasised self-help. That is why the Scottish Government has also funded organisations through the Veterans Fund to help elderly veterans to have an active social life long into their old age. Unforgotten forces partners fairs for free would be an example of that. In terms of future funding, my ministerial colleagues and I are currently considering how we can support the veterans sector beyond 2020. Mr Corry, I note calls for the UK and Scottish Governments to work with the consortium to review future funding options in order that it can continue its innovative and successful work beyond its current funding term. Let me finish as I began on a note of consensus. As I indicated at the moment to go, the Scottish ministers are presently considering how we can support the veterans sector in the years ahead. However, I know that the consortium is looking actively at how it can make its model sustainable and looking at a range of ways in which that can be done. However, Mr Corry's motion is right to note calls for input from the UK Government too. The UK Government supported the establishment of the model through LIBOR funding, which is coming to an end as we have heard next year. There is clearly a question about following the initial commitment to begin the work, what support there will be of all post-libor from Welsh Westminster. For our part, the Scottish Government is happy to work with the consortium to review funding options to help to ensure that it has a sustainable future because it is certainly proven that it is worth. Thank you very much, minister. That concludes the debate, and I close this meeting of Parliament.