POPPY Day brings remembrance of those who died in the two world wars, and also memories of those killed more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of the latter conflicts, more than 100 families are still waiting for inquests to be held.

Important at this time is the work of the Royal British Legion. At the Liberal Party conference in Bournemouth I signed its Time To Do Your Bit pledge, which campaigns for many issues, including welfare provision for personnel and their families, care of the bereaved and support for veterans.

Successive governments have failed to provide basic welfare support to service personnel and their families. There have been too many reports of poor accommodation and inadequate welfare support.

Our shadow defence secretary, Nick Harvey, has produced a paper – Our Nation’s Duty – setting priorities to put personnel at the heart of any new strategic defence and security review, to upgrade accommodation and to improve access to support for families.

My son is a serving member of the RAF who has been in the Gulf and Iraq. Thus I know at first-hand the pressure our forces are under. I will continue to support a better deal for service personnel and their families.

Jacquie Bell, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Stockton South.