Plymouth MPs Linda Gilroy and Alison Seabeck today welcomed the announcement by Des Browne that Council Tax Relief has been extended to all Armed Forces personnel deployed on operations overseas.

Linda Gilroy commented "This brings an extra 4,500 troops into the scheme and I am delighted with the change. The Defence Select Committee on which I sit, is looking very closely at how we look after our service men and women and it is only fair that the offer of Council Tax Relief is extended to all overseas personnel"

In addition to the extension of the Council Tax Relief Mr Browne announced that celebrations would be held in Blackpool on 27 June for Veterans Day and that the popular Veterans Badge had been extended to all those veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Alison Seabeck commented "The veterans badge is very popular and both Linda and I are happy to help anyone who would like to claim one. This applies both to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who can now claim for the first time, or indeed for veterans from earlier conflicts who may not yet have claimed their badge."

4 February 2008