Plaid MP: ‘Armed Forces Day is reminder that more must be done for our troops’

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for defence, Elfyn Llwyd MP, has called on the Government to commemorate Armed Forces Day (Saturday 27^th June) by pledging to do much more for the welfare of servicemen and women.

Plaid Cymru MPs have urged the UK Government to do more to support troops once returned from deployment and on leaving the Armed forces.

Plaid’s Elfyn Llwyd MP, said:

“Of course it is important to commend and support the troops and I hope that Armed Forces Day will be an occasion to honour our very brave and deserving service men and women.

“It is important too that we do not lose sight of the fact that this Government is not currently doing enough for them.

“We in Plaid Cymru have major differences with the Government on foreign policy. However, what is clear is that they have failed to adequately equip the armed forces properly on operations oversees, plus much more needs to be done to provide aftercare for war veterans of all ages.

“For example, a large number of former military personnel develop mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, once back in ‘ Civvie Street ’. Plaid Cymru is campaigning to ensure that their well-being is given utmost priority and that a full after-care service is in place when they leave.

“Shockingly too, one in ten people currently in UK prisons are former serving members of the Armed Forces – according to research from NAPO. The figures may well be higher too.

“There is clearly a lack of sufficient specialist services available and the Government must take responsibility. The problems are becoming more acute too as servicemen and women spend far longer in conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan than ever before. The timing between deployments are much shorter and consequently the pressures on service personnel are considerably increased.

“I hope that Armed Forces Day will remind the public of the immense work that our armed services do, but also this must not become a smokescreen by the Government. In truth, troops need more than just one day of concern for them.”