Defence Minister Derek Twigg has backed a campaign for a new £1.7 million family centre for relatives of injured soldiers treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

Mr Twigg, who is responsible for personnel issues in the armed forces, offered his backing in the House of Commons, when quizzed by Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart (Lab).

The Birmingham Post last week announced it was supporting a campaign by the Soldiers' Sailors' Airmen and Families' Association to create the family centre in a six-bedroom specially adapted property. SSAFA's appeal was launched last night by the charity's patron, Prince Michael of Kent, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

It followed warnings by the Commons Defence Committee that relatives of injured soldiers were not receiving the support they need.

Family members currently have to stay in side rooms at Selly Oak or in flats nearby rented by the charity, but it now plans to convert a detached property into a round-the-clock support centre for relatives.

It will provide easy access to services such as counselling and child care to relative who are often coping with the fact that a loved-one is severely injured.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Stuart asked: "I understand that an appeal is being launched in Birmingham to extend facilities where families can stay to support those in Selly Oak.

"Can the Minister assure me that his Department will support that appeal as much as possible?'

Mr Twigg told her: "I can give her that assurance."

He added: "It is an important part of the process that SSAFA is involved in the delivery of more housing for the families of injured service personnel.

"That is good because it shows the ex-service and charitable sector working with the Government to provide care, and it gives members of the public a chance to show their support for the armed forces."

Julia Clark, SSAFA's regional awareness and fundraising manager, said coverage of Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan had prompted people to support the appeal.

"Since The Birmingham Post backed our campaign last week the phone hasn't stopped ringing, I've taken at least 25 calls and I've heard of a trust wanting to donate £50,000 which is fantastic," she said.

"I think the news that Prince Harry has been serving in Afghanistan has pulled at the public's heart strings, and made them realise what an important job everyone out there is doing and why they need support when they return."

 For more information about the Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen and Families' Association go to www.ssafa.org.uk and to make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/ssafa-homefromhome.