Veterans minister Johnny Mercer is visiting Gosport to witness ID cards being printed for Gosport veterans. This ID card scheme is being rolled out nationwide, with the printer soon printing 60,000 cards per month.
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00:00 right time right? Brilliant. Right let's see what these are then.
00:06 Dave that's you. Look at that. Wow. The first one. Thank you very much. Look at that.
00:14 Criminal. What have you been charged with?
00:19 Well I couldn't possibly say a specific number.
00:21 Well it's fantastic. It's been you know it's been promised over many years. It's probably the thing I get asked about most.
00:28 And I also know the complexities of how difficult it's been to get this done in government. So I'm delighted.
00:34 You know we promised I promised that we would deliver that this year. We fulfilled that promise today.
00:40 And now it's about ramping it up so that we can get them into the hands of every veteran in the UK.
00:45 You said that the scheme was mentioned above all others. Why do you think that's the case?
00:49 It's interesting really. I've thought about that a lot myself. And the truth is I don't really know.
00:53 I know that it's incredibly important to a lot of people that what an ID card is that sense of identity and the sort of assistance it helps with you getting into veteran services in the UK.
01:04 I think probably the delay on it's probably been quite frustrating for people.
01:08 But you know I came back in in October last year and made it clear I was going to deliver that this year. And that's what we've done.
01:15 What benefits will this ID card scheme give?
01:17 So there's lots of benefits to it. I mean you know whether it's defence discount services or anything like that or I was just speaking to someone who's based here actually.
01:23 It will get you access onto a camp. It helps with identification in dealing with service charities.
01:30 And we look to sort of expand that in the years ahead. But the real challenge has been you know the digitalisation and the verification behind that.
01:38 And that's that's now done. So there's lots of lots of space for this to move into.
01:43 You mentioned the delays and the targets earlier about the number of ID cards being set. Do you think those targets will be met?
01:49 Yeah they will. I think people are beginning to understand that you know I say what I do and I do what I say and that's what we've done with this and we'll continue to do that.
01:58 As you'd imagine Gosport has got a large thriving veteran community. What other schemes are the government putting forward to potentially benefit them?
02:06 Because as you'd imagine they're ex-servicemen and women and they deserve all the support they get.
02:10 Yeah look I think over the last 10 to 12 months in particular the veterans support sector in this country has transformed.
02:17 You know Op Courage UK's first dedicated mental health care pathway. 19,000 referrals in its first year.
02:23 You've got Op Restore around physical health. You've got Op Nova for people in the criminal justice system.
02:27 You've got Fortitude that's going to end homelessness this year.
02:31 The veteran accreditation I did a visit to Portsmouth actually. I went to the hospital and looked at their Veterans Aware set up and it was one of the best in the country.
02:38 So you can be really proud of it. I think veterans in Gosport and in Portsmouth you know it's never have never kind of had an offer that they have today cognizant of the fact that there's more to do.
02:52 So I think it's a good place to be a veteran but I'll keep going.
02:56 You said you're a part of the armed forces yourself or used to be. Does that make this scheme mean much more to you?
03:02 I think look up the whole sort of military into politics thing I think in the military I was in the military for a defined period of time.
03:09 I finished that and now I'm a cabinet minister. Right. So I don't I don't tend to refer back to my time in the military all the time.
03:15 Lots of people who join the military and lots of people do lots of different things.
03:17 Obviously it shapes me as a young man but this is a different part of my life now and I'm committed as a minister to delivering the things I said I would deliver of holding you know making sure the government does do what it says it would do.
03:30 It's not easy but you know ultimately I make these promises for other people and I'm pleased I've managed to see it through.
03:36 And finally a lot of veterans are facing some problems. They're not just in Portsmouth of course but in other places but worldwide.
03:42 Whether it comes to mental health services accessing the right services getting the support they actually need.
03:48 Do you think the veterans will be served by this government the right way?
03:52 Yeah absolutely. I think I think veterans services in the UK have been transformed over the last 12 months.
03:58 I think we want this to be the best country in the world to be a veteran.
04:02 We have these clear dedicated pathways now whether it's in mental health physical health homelessness you know clear pathways into employment which remains the number one factor in improving your life chances and veteran employment is the highest it's ever been at 87 percent.
04:16 You know you're less likely to have a mental health problem if you serve.
04:20 So look I think the data is all in a good place. I think the programs are in a good place but I'll keep pushing because I want this to be the best country in the world to be a veteran.
04:27 David you've seen the ID card printed today. What benefit do you think the scheme will give to veterans in Gosforth and also across the country?
04:35 The veterans ID well the veterans recognition card sorry has been something that's been discussed for about five years now.
04:42 It's a very popular thing that's coming with the veterans.
04:45 What it'll do is actually give us a one point proof of identification that you did serve in one of the forces within the UK.
04:53 And do you think that will make it easier for veterans to access any form of service or should they need it?
05:00 It should be. I mean that is your proof that you are a valid veteran.
05:05 So whatever services you need to access without having to bring further written documentation then that should give you the proof that you require.
05:14 Do you think it will bring any other benefits to veterans? A sense of belonging potentially?
05:19 Yeah I mean the veterans I think already have a sense of belonging. There are those that are on the outside that are homeless.
05:27 Perhaps if we can get it to them as well then that might bring them back into the fold as well.
05:33 You said when you were talking to the minister that it was a big talking point among the veterans community. Why do you think that is?
05:38 There are those that actually think they need more recognition I believe. So obviously the card will give them that.
05:47 What is your opinion on that yourself?
05:50 Me? I am quite happy to have it or not have it. I am proud to be one of the first recipients of it.
05:56 But I already have written documentation that I can carry around to prove I am a veteran anyway.
06:02 Which most service, well all service men are actually given when they leave.
06:06 Can you tell me a bit more about the breakfast culture in Gosport?
06:09 Yes sure. I started through requests of other veterans within the Gosport area. They had been trying to form a breakfast club.
06:19 I used to be the secretary of the Gosport R&A at the time which had a very big hall and a kitchen attached to it.
06:25 So I suggested that we start running the breakfast club out of there.
06:29 So that started four years ago next month.
06:32 After about two months we applied to the global network of breakfast clubs which it now belongs to.
06:40 With the veteran community in Gosport as it is, do you think they are being supported enough by the current government?
06:46 Do you think there is anything that is missing?
06:48 No, I am quite happy with the support that the current government is giving.