Recommendation 15

HM Government Acknowledged

Grouped response for 15, 16 MOD notes the Committee’s recommendation that there should be improved awareness amongst Armed Forces personnel and their families on the differing education, healthcare, tax and professional qualifications systems. We are committed to continuing to work with SG, in close consultation with the single Service Families Federations, to refreshing the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ publication annually, to ensure that it contains the most up-to-date information on education, healthcare, employability and housing for Service Families in Scotland. We will continue to signpost it to our personnel, including through our HIVE2 information services. 2 Help and Information Volunteer Exchange We will also continue our involvement in the SG chaired Scottish Armed Forces Education Strategy Group (SAFESG). This group has been in existence for nearly a decade and has been responsible for the creation of a significant number of parent focused guides on Scottish education matters. The MOD will also continue to work with SG and other relevant stakeholders, to further embed the activities and resources developed by the National Transition Officer for Armed Forces Children – a Scotland based role, previously funded through the MOD Education Support Fund, which has been pivotal in generating high quality information to Armed Forces families prior to transition into and from the Scottish Education system. Most notable has been the creation of the Forces children’s education3 website, which provides information about Education in Scotland to families and support to Scottish Education professionals who support Armed Forces children. The MOD will also continue to deliver its Information, Advice and Guidance function to serving parents, delivered through the Education Advisory Team (formerly CEAS) in Defence Children’s Services. The content of its information will continue to be informed by the expertise of SG Education agencies represented on SAFESG.