Today's Defence coverage includes reporting of the Home Office’s decision to waive settlement fees for interpreters who aided UK efforts in the Afghanistan conflict, as well as the continuing search for Katrice Lee, who disappeared as a child 36 year ago.
Waiving of settlement fees for Afghan interpreters
New immigration rules were announced which will make it easier for Afghan interpreters and their families to claim permanent settlement and that the £2,389 fees to gain indefinite leave to remain will be waived.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson had been lobbying on their behalf saying Britain had a duty to them and his comments were carried on BBC News, as well as in the Times, Independent, Daily Express, The Scotsman and other publications.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said
They’ve served alongside our armed forces and have done an amazing job working with our Armed Forces in Afghanistan. We have a personal duty to do the right thing by them and I know that’s something that is felt right across government.
Joint Expeditionary Force Live Exercise
Sky News also ran coverage of British troops taking part in the Joint Expeditionary Force’s live exercise, conducted between nine European allies, on Salisbury Plain.
The live capability demonstration featured troops from the nine JEF nations, including troops from the UK Parachute Regiment, the Danish Jutland Dragoon Regiment, the Lithuanian “Iron Wolf” Brigade and the Latvian Mechanised Infantry Brigade, conducting urban combat operations with air support provided by Apaches, Chinooks, Wildcats and Tornados.
Search for Katrice Lee
The BBC, Sky News, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror and The Herald are among those who continue to cover the search for Katrice Lee, who disappeared from an army base in Paderborn, Germany, 36 years ago.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said
The disappearance of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and I have been struck by the courage and dignity of the Lee family who have never given up on their search for Katrice. As this major dig gets underway, the efforts and expertise of the Royal Military Police are behind the family. I urge anyone who was in the Paderborn area at the time of the disappearance to contact the helpline – even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this heart-wrenching case.
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