WEST Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox met with Royal British Legion area manager Dymphna Knowles last week at an event in the Houses of Parliament dedicated to showcasing the legion's work throughout the south region.

The Royal British Legion is the country's leading welfare provider for the Armed Forces community, and Mr Cox used the opportunity to discuss the changing face of Armed Forces welfare provision in the local community, and to understand more about the forces' most pressing issues.

The legion's recent household survey of the former service community revealed that veterans are more likely than other citizens to be unemployed; to report hearing difficulties; to have higher rates of alcohol dependency; or to experience back pain and limb problems. A small but significant minority of the working age community are also struggling financially.

The legion is helping to meet this need through a range of services, including an independent money and benefits advice service, an online training and employment resource, and a network of care homes and break centres.

Dymphna Knowles said: 'It was great to see Geoffrey.

'As a result of the public's ongoing support and generosity The Royal British Legion was able to answer more than 200,000 calls for help last year from the Armed Forces community. Most people don't realise the extent of our direct welfare support for serving and ex-service personnel and their families, nor the research and campaigning that we do on their behalf, so we were delighted to tell Geoffrey about the range of things that we do to help these people live on.'

Mr Cox said: 'Dymphna made it clear that the legion's work extends well beyond the remembrance period. Providing assistance to members and former members of the Armed Forces who have been injured, or who need help in other ways, as well as their families, is a 365-day-a-year job. As a nation, it is vital that we honour the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, and I'm proud to support the work of The Royal British Legion.'