FORCES' families are to benefit from better access to

schools, doctors, dentists and degree courses under a massive

overhaul of the way the state treats the loved ones of

front-line troops.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said the Government was

determined to “make a real difference to the everyday lives of

our forces and their families”.

Every major Government department was told to reconsider the

way it deals with forces families which in future could mean

“special treatment” where particular sacrifices have been

made.

The move was welcomed in the Westcountry where campaigners

have complained about the way public services – particularly

the NHS and schools – fail to take into account the unique

demands of military life.

With the Navy, RAF and Royal Marines based across the region

many of the changes will be keenly felt by communities with

long-term links to the military.

It was also announced that compensation for the most

seriously injured personnel will double recognition of their

life-long challenges with disability as a result of their

service.

Publishing the document outlining The Nation's Commitment,

Mr Browne said: “Our armed forces are truly inspiring – every

day they risk their lives to keep us safe – and it is a

fundamental duty of government to support them and their

families.”

Senior officers see the welfare package as crucial to

building up manning levels across services by improving

retention rates.

It comes after an internal Ministry of Defence survey found

that 47 per cent of those serving in the Army and Navy – and

almost as many personnel in the RAF – regularly considered

quitting.

The First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said Royal Navy

and Royal Marines personnel and their families “deserve nothing

but the best”. 

Plymouth Sutton MP Alison Seabeck said many of her

constituents in the city had complained of the difficulties in

accessing healthcare and schooling when moving around the

country with relatives who are in the forces.

“They will be very pleased with the outcome because for most

people it is the small things impacting on their day-to-day

lives which makes things more complicated for them than other

families.”

She said personnel deployed to conflict zones overseas

should not have the “stress and worry” of how their families

are coping.

Exeter MP and Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: “Our

service men and women do an outstanding job and we all owe them

a debt of gratitude and a duty of care.”

Opposition parties, who have levelled criticism at the

Government over the welfare of military families, welcomed the

package. But they insisted it would take time to reverse the

“damage”.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said:

“Hopefully, these measures will improve the lot of forces

personnel, but they cannot repair the damage already done by

the long-term neglect of the welfare of servicemen and

women.”

The North Devon MP added: “Neither will the changes make any

significant difference to the intense pressures that forces

families are put under by the critical overstretch of our armed

forces.”

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the measures echoed

Tory proposals, but the package “cannot disguise Labour's

decade-long neglect of the armed forces”.

And John Muxworthy, chief executive of the UK National

Defence Association, said: “Issues such as compensation or

post-service education are merely the tip of the iceberg.”