A PROMISE to enshrine the welfare of soldiers and their families in law has been welcomed by an Oxfordshire mother who lost her soldier son.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox briefed MPs yesterday on a new military covenant which sets out rights to services such as health, housing and education for forces’ children.

At present the covenant is an informal agreement.

Lee Mackie, from Bampton, lost her 21-year-old Marine son Jason after a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2009.

She said the covenant was good news for soldiers and their families, but protecting soldiers in war zones should be a priority.

She said: “To me, really good training, having the right equipment, having the support they need out there on the ground has to be paramount.

“It has to be the most important thing for me and what is happening with this covenant would just be a bonus.

“It’s about time – our guys deserve every bit of help they can get. And if the Government can do that then good on them. They are out there serving their country to try and protect us and because of that they deserve the recognition and any help they can get.”

She also said parents of single servicemen should be offered some sort of protection.

She added: “I think parents do need a certain amount of recognition and help but on the other hand if they have family it is just as important.”

The Royal British Legion has been campaigning for the nation’s duty of care to personnel to be enshrined in law.

Jim Lewendon, vice chairman of the Oxfordshire branch, said: “I think it is a good thing to ensure these lads do get properly looked after during their service and afterwards as well.

“And it has been a long time coming. They deserve everything.

“They deserve the best.”

David Cameron, Prime Minister and Witney MP, said: “The high esteem we all have for our armed forces will soon be given the recognition it deserves – as part of the law of the land.”

The Armed Forces Bill originally included only an annual review of how the informal agreement was being met, leading to accusations the Prime Minister had broken a pre-election pledge to make it law.

Dr Fox said it would now explicitly recognise that “those who are willing to lay down their lives for the country have a right to expect that they will be dealt with properly”.