THE UK census should contain questions on the armed forces to better help the armed forces community in Central Fife and across Scotland.

MP Douglas Chapman believes this would provide public bodies, local authorities, and charities with valuable information to ensure they are able to deliver the best services they can for the Armed Forces community.

He is supporting the Count Them In campaign, which calls for questions on the Armed Forces community to be included in the next UK Census.

Mr Chapman, a member of the Defence Select Committee, has backed the campaign organised by the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland – it is estimated that there are up to 6.7m members of the Armed Forces community living in the UK, representing about a tenth of the population, however, little is currently known about their exact numbers, location and needs.

Douglas Chapman met representatives of the Royal British Legion, veterans and service personnel to discuss the campaign in Parliament recently and said afterwards: “Servicemen and women, veterans and their families are effectively hidden from official statistics, and that’s why I’m backing the call for new questions to be added to the next UK Census. We count on them – let’s count them in.”

Chris Simpkins, director-general of the Royal British Legion, said: “As a nation we promise to provide lifelong care and support for those who serve our country.

“By adding questions to the 2021 UK Census, we can help public bodies and charities deliver the best services they can for our Armed Forces community, when and where it is needed most."