MSP for Clackmannanshire & Dunblane, and former Veterans Minister, Keith Brown, has added his voice to concerns over the decision of the Royal British Legion to cease funding to the Armed Services Advice Project, which will see lifeline support services to veterans and their families axed.

The Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP) was established in 2010 as a partnership between Poppy Scotland and Citizen’s Advice Scotland to provide dedicated information, advice and support to member of the Armed Forces Community in Scotland. Poppy Scotland subsequently merged with the Royal British Legion in 2011.

The service which costs £478,000 pa to run, and covers 75% of local authority areas in Scotland, has generated over £20million of financial gain for the veterans community in Scotland since it’s inception and has been hailed as a “lifeline” by many veterans.

Commenting Keith Brown MSP said:  “This decision will come as a huge blow to Scotland’s veterans community who will quite rightly feel abandoned by the Royal British Legion at a time when support and advice is needed more than ever.

“ASAP is an extremely successful service which has more than proven its worth in financial terms, but also in improved mental health and wellbeing for veterans and their families and the lack of information about any alternative service is extremely concerning.

“I have written to the Royal British Legion to seek answers on behalf of the veterans community and to both the Scottish and UK Government Ministers to ask what they can do to offer support. I have also lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament and will be seeking to secure a members debate to highlight the issue further.”