RE: TIME for a Veterans Minister. The interests of ex-servicemen and women and reservists need to be championed by a dedicated Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

A Minister could work to ensure that veterans with service-related conditions are entitled to priority treatment, with those who have lost limbs being ensured access to state-of-the-art prosthetics and after-care and have responsibility for helping former service personnel to adjust to civilian life and ensure that that veterans can access the assistance they need with health, housing and employment.

The Scottish Government has worked hard to improve the support veterans receive from devolved public services such as the NHS and other agencies and recently created a commissioner for veterans.

A ministerial post could also help to ensure that reservists, who are now being expected to play a much wider role after the current restructure of the armed forces, don’t lose out and are not discriminated against by employers as a result of fulfilling their duties.

Jonathan T Clark Allt-yr-yn Heights Newport