Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has welcomed Government funding for the town’s Armed Forces Day celebrations, paying tribute in the House of Commons to the local veterans group behind them.
Speaking during Defence Questions on Tuesday 2 June, Mr Waugh told MPs that Rochdale will mark Armed Forces Day with the traditional flag raising ceremony at the Town Hall, followed by a family fun day at Springfield Park on Sunday 28 June.
He singled out Adam Trennery of Get Together After Serving (GTAS), the Rochdale community group putting on the event, thanking him both for the celebration and for the work he does all year round supporting service people and veterans.
The Minister joined Mr Waugh in thanking Adam Trennery and confirmed that the Government has provided funding to support the day.
Paul Waugh said:
“Adam Trennery and the team at Get Together After Serving are a credit to Rochdale. Day in, day out, they make sure the men and women who served this country are never left to manage on their own.
“This year they have put on something really special, a family fun day at Springfield Park for the whole town to come together and say thank you. That is exactly how a community should mark Armed Forces Day.
“I was proud to stand up in the Commons and pay tribute to Adam and to all our Rochdale veterans.”
The same week, MPs debated the Committee Stage of the Armed Forces Bill, which will deliver better housing, better services and better protections for forces and their families. This week also saw confirmation of another above-inflation pay rise for the armed forces, the third since Labour came to office.
Paul Waugh added:
“For years our forces and their families were asked to do more with less. We are turning that corner.
“This is the third above-inflation pay rise since Labour came to office, and it is not just about the pay packet. Satisfaction with military homes has gone up 12% in the past year, which means families finally living somewhere they are proud to bring the kids home to.
“There is still plenty of hard graft ahead. I am pressing Rochdale Council to finally sort out Denehurst House, so the veterans homes and community cafe we were promised can actually be delivered. I am also working on amendments to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to strengthen the protections our veterans deserve.
“We are putting record amounts into the people who serve, and into those who have served. I intend to keep at it.”