Thursday 20 December 2012

Councils pry into War Pensions



Why are councils all round the country sending this request-form to Britain’s most vulnerable, our disabled War Pensioners?  They want to know something they already have access to, Private Information.  So why are they asking for permission to go to the MoD for all the details on registered War Pensioners?  If there is nothing untoward then perhaps the councils should include a complete explanation as to why they need this extra and intrusive data?  If they are not willing to undertake this, then they ought to answer a more simple question, how much is this needless exercise costing the tax-payer?  With most council’s placing a “disregard” on War Pensioners entitlements, and the details annually updated by those WPs claiming allowances, what possible need is there for this further intrusion into Private Affairs?

How much do councils spend in ensuring that the large number of War Pensioners in particular and pensioners in general get their true entitlements?  It is guaranteed that there are whole swaths of council offices detailed to ensuring that immigrants, illegal or otherwise, are not confronted with intrusive paperwork that every indigenous pensioner dreads.  If they are there are paid legal advisors waiting in the wings to protect the interests of the immigrant.  Where are these professional scavengers when it comes to Former Servicemen’s Rights?  And where are the officers of the council when a War Pensioner needs assistance?  Learning how to make applications for promotion so to get the Sharon Shoesmith handshake?

What is more insidious and explains the great angst amongst former and recently dismissed Royal British Legion workers is that the charity has -according to those discontent former employees - taken its foot off the pedal and allegedly for increased personal pensions and salaries, for the few at the top, appear now are no longer fulfilling their commitments to the Veterans.  Is there some secret deal going on between the Government, local councils and sleeping MP’s to have War Pensioners Rights summarily made public before being revoked to pay for past Governments massive welcoming to the Abu Hamza’s and Abu Qatada's, whose families appear to  gain all the benefits of Veterans sacrifices.  Those who worked in welfare for Veterans share the anger and utter dismay that the open door policy has exposed into Britain’s welfare system that it does not extend to those whose efforts provided the security and stability for Governments excesses, the Armed Forces and especially the wounded veterans.

Has anyone asked their MP to inquire why or even what this intrusion into veteran’s privacy is all about?  Blackpool South’s MP was until recently a government spokesperson on Veteran Affairs.  Let’s wait and see just what he will say on the subject.  I have a ten pound bet with William Hill that he will say nothing.  Afterall, former Blackpool veteran Andy Miller fell under his remit and the family are still waiting for answers let alone an acknowledgement of correspondence. Well, it only took the Hillsborough Families 23 year to get a proper investigation into the 96 deaths...

2 comments:

  1. Things haven't changed.
    Tommy.
    I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
    The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
    The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
    I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
    O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
    But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
    The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
    O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

    I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
    They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
    They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
    But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
    But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
    The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
    O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

    Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
    Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
    An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
    Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
    Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
    But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
    The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
    O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

    We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
    But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
    An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
    Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
    While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
    But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
    There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
    O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

    You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
    We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
    Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
    The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
    But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
    An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
    An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!


    Rudyard Kipling.

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  2. do the coouncils want this info to cut h/b and carer allowances and charge for care out of the vetrans pension to save on adult social care.It would look like a saving on there balance sheets job done i think

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