Children of the fallen to get extra help with their education

Children of fallen service personnel will receive extra financial support to help with their education, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.

Speaking ahead of taking part in Armed Forces Day events in Edinburgh, he outlined how further and higher education bursaries would help children of servicemen and women killed in the line of duty.

Worth between 1,500 and 8,240 a year per person, the funding is intended to help young people who have lost parents in action to attend college or university.

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Mr Salmond said: "The people of Scotland are proud of our brave servicemen and women, and Armed Forces Day is a welcome chance for all of us to celebrate their contribution and honour those who have fallen.

"It is only right that, as a society, we return their commitment and dedication to duty by supporting them and their families in every possible way. That is why we are offering education bursaries to the sons and daughters of military men and women killed in service.

"This money will help those young men and women whose parents make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty to go to university or college.

"This is an extra level of support for military families, demonstrating Scotland's continuing commitment to our armed forces, veterans and military families."

He said the government had already taken steps to give extra help to veterans, such as setting up the Scottish veterans fund and introducing concessionary bus travel for injured personnel.