The Church of England is to make a rare direct political intervention in the House of Lords this week over legislation to enshrine the ‘military covenant’ in law. The proposals will guarantee soldiers that their sacrifice is honoured by provisions including council tax rebates for those on operations, extra NHS help for the injured and free bus travel for those who have been wounded. But senior bishops, who are backed by former chief of the army staff General the Lord Dannatt, say that the scheme needs to go further. Under the current plans, the Ministry of Defence would be solely responsible for governing the level of care given to troops. The Rt Rev Stephen Platten, the Bishop of Wakefield, will move an amendment to the Armed Forces Bill in the House of Lords on Tuesday, arguing for the Government to set up an independent review of the welfare needs of serving armed forces personnel.
Pray: for all those who are injured in action and that our Government will respond to requests that their welfare needs be independently administered. (Lk.10:9)