Today’s defence related news includes coverage of HMS Montrose in the Gulf and £5 million pledged for the new Office for Veterans Affairs.
HMS Montrose in the Gulf
In page leads The Times and Daily Mail, and as part of a piece running on Sky Sunrise throughout the morning, the role the Royal Navy is playing in the Gulf is reported, following an embed on board HMS Montrose as it accompanied British flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Media pick up on HMS Montrose facing 115 confrontations with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Gulf since the start of July and that, in mid-July, the Type 23 frigate’s electronic surveillance system detected Iran had directed cruise missiles towards the area where it was operating in the Gulf. Both papers carry comment from Commander Will King, the Commanding Officer of Montrose, and he was also interviewed by Sky News, saying the Iranian military had “heavily” tested HMS Montrose almost daily with fast attack craft and drones deployed as close as 200 metres to “intimidate” his ship. Whilst
There are also comments carried from UK Maritime Component Commander Commodore Dean Bassett, the most senior Royal Navy Officer in the Gulf. He said that Britain is to increase its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability in the area because “in the last couple of months we’ve seen a dramatic change to the security in the area… What we are looking for is a mix of capabilities so that we can provide persistent surveillance”.
Office for Veterans Affairs
The Sun reports that the Treasury has announced a £5million boost for the Government’s first office dedicated to looking after Britain’s war veterans. The money will help give former servicemen and women better and quicker access to medical treatment and training opportunities. It will also tackle the growing number of homeless veterans. Comments from Defence Minister Johnny Mercer and Paymaster General Oliver Dowden are carried.
Chancellor Sajid Javid said:
This Spending Round is focused on public services. And no-one has given more than the service men and women who lay their lives on the line for all of us. Supporting them when they leave service is not just our responsibility but also our duty, which is why we’ve made funding the launch of the Office of Veterans Affairs a top priority.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said:
The Prime Minister has given us a great responsibility to make sure our veterans are supported in every aspect of their lives, including their healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities. We’re already hard at work bringing together the right people across government, and this new funding will be instrumental in making this vision a reality.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Oliver Dowden, said:
The Sun has been a great champion for our veterans. Now that we’ve secured this additional funding, we can use it to fight for them from the heart of government, and make sure this country never lets down those heroes who risked their lives to keep us all safe.
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