MILITARY COVENANT AND LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL

That this House notes that the Government has introduced the armed forces covenant; further notes that the armed forces covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the state and the armed forces; further notes that councils around the UK have signed up to the armed forces covenant; further notes that Lancaster City Council has not signed up to the covenant; urges Lancaster City Council to sign up to show its support, to redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community faces in comparison to other citizens and to recognise the sacrifices that they have made; and further notes that among its benefits the covenant entitles service personnel to council tax relief, keeps the armed forces compensation scheme free from means testing and doubles the welfare grant.