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Troop compensation to be doubled Troop compensation to be doubled
(about 2 hours later)
The government has announced that it will double the compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops.The government has announced that it will double the compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops.
The maximum payment will increase from £285,000 to £570,000, on top of a guaranteed income payment for life.The maximum payment will increase from £285,000 to £570,000, on top of a guaranteed income payment for life.
There will also be a smaller rise in the awards to service personnel who have sustained less serious injuries.There will also be a smaller rise in the awards to service personnel who have sustained less serious injuries.
Campaigners for better compensation have welcomed what they say is a government pledge to treat soldiers and their families more fairly.Campaigners for better compensation have welcomed what they say is a government pledge to treat soldiers and their families more fairly.
The measures, outlined in Parliament by Defence Secretary Des Browne, are part of a wider package aimed at ensuring personnel and their families are also better looked after in areas such as education and housing.The measures, outlined in Parliament by Defence Secretary Des Browne, are part of a wider package aimed at ensuring personnel and their families are also better looked after in areas such as education and housing.
'Duty to troops''Duty to troops'
Similar plans are being put into force in Scotland, where the MoD will work with the Scottish government to deliver better services for wounded veterans and forces' families.Similar plans are being put into force in Scotland, where the MoD will work with the Scottish government to deliver better services for wounded veterans and forces' families.
Mr Browne said the government had a "fundamental duty" to support troops.Mr Browne said the government had a "fundamental duty" to support troops.
"The measures will make a real difference to the everyday lives of our forces and their families," he said."The measures will make a real difference to the everyday lives of our forces and their families," he said.
Any increase in the compensation package is wonderful. As far as we are concerned they (wounded service personnel) can never get enough Bryn Parry, Help for Heroes Families welcome compensationAny increase in the compensation package is wonderful. As far as we are concerned they (wounded service personnel) can never get enough Bryn Parry, Help for Heroes Families welcome compensation
"It will improve their access to public services and for the most seriously injured it will ensure a significant increase in the amount of compensation they get paid."
In answer to questions put to him by Conservative defence spokesman Liam Fox, Mr Browne acknowledged that the proposals would only cover troops wounded after 2005.In answer to questions put to him by Conservative defence spokesman Liam Fox, Mr Browne acknowledged that the proposals would only cover troops wounded after 2005.
Soldiers who received their injuries before 2005 will not be automatically eligible for the increases.Soldiers who received their injuries before 2005 will not be automatically eligible for the increases.
And while there will be no extra government money to pay for the increased compensation awards, Mr Browne said the all government departments - and not just the MoD - would help fund the rises. There will be no extra government money to pay for the increased compensation awards, but Mr Browne said all departments - and not just the MoD - would help fund the rises.
Welcoming the news, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "Gordon Brown is setting himself high standards with this paper but it remains to be seen whether he will deliver. Welcoming the news, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said: "Gordon Brown is setting himself high standards with this paper but it remains to be seen whether he will deliver."
"Hopefully, these measures will improve the lot of forces personnel but they cannot repair the damage already done by the long-term neglect of the welfare of servicemen and women."
British LegionBritish Legion
The compensation boosts were welcomed by military chiefs - including Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup said the changes would "ensure our armed forces and their dependants are not disadvantaged by their service life."
Sir Jock said they would "ensure our armed forces and their dependants are not disadvantaged by their service life." The Royal British Legion's director general, Chris Simpkins, said: "This is a triumphant day for the Legion’s campaign to honour the covenant.”
The government's announcement follows the Royal British Legion's campaign demanding that service personnel and their families receive better treatment and recognition from government and society. Pte Jamie Cooper said wounded troops had been 'thrown in the gutter'.
The Legion had said that the "military covenant" - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - was not being upheld.
After Mr Browne made his announcement on Thursday, the Legion's director general, Chris Simpkins, said: "This is a triumphant day for the Legion’s campaign to Honour the Covenant.”
Severe injuries
Relatives of those severely injured in recent years also welcomed the news.Relatives of those severely injured in recent years also welcomed the news.
Phil Cooper, father of Pte Jamie Cooper, who was left crippled after a mortar attack in Iraq, said he was "delighted" to hear compensation payments for badly wounded troops may double. Phil Cooper, father of Pte Jamie Cooper, 19, who was left crippled after a mortar attack in Iraq, said he was "delighted".
Jamie Cooper, from Bristol, was awarded £57,000 after his injuries left him unable to work or walk without sticks.Pte Jamie Cooper said wounded troops had been 'thrown in the gutter'. Jamie Cooper, from Bristol, was awarded £57,000 after his injuries left him unable to work or walk without sticks.
His father told the BBC: "I am hopeful that the MoD will increase the award, although I haven't heard any figures yet.
"I have spoken to Jamie, and he is very pleased, and hopeful that people like him will be treated more fairly in future."
Until now, the highest lump sum payment to soldiers has been £285,000, and doubling the maximum payment to £570,000 should help at least 80 of the most seriously wounded.Until now, the highest lump sum payment to soldiers has been £285,000, and doubling the maximum payment to £570,000 should help at least 80 of the most seriously wounded.
Another 80 or so men and women with less serious injuries should also see their payouts raised. Another 80 or so men and women with less serious injuries should also see their pay-outs raised.
The most seriously wounded will continue to receive an annual income on top, meaning that their overall lifetime payout could be more than £1.5m.The most seriously wounded will continue to receive an annual income on top, meaning that their overall lifetime payout could be more than £1.5m.
Bryn Parry, co-founder and chairman of Help for Heroes, which supports wounded servicemen and women, said: "As far as we are concerned these young men and women are heroes for serving their country. We believe that if they are injured, they deserve the very best."
Free university education
The new strategy, co-ordinated across government departments, is aimed at delivering better access to public services and greater welfare support.
Other measures set out in the Service Personnel Command Paper published by the MoD include priority access to social housing for the injured, and guarantees that service personnel and their families retain their place on NHS waiting lists even if they are posted to a new base.
It will also offer free university education for servicemen and women leaving after at least six years of service, as well as better access to school places for service children.
With the Army struggling to retain key personnel, such as young captains and experienced senior officers, it has become clear that more needs to be done for personnel.
'Careless'
Retired officer Maj Gen Arthur Denaro told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I believe the government has been very careless and lacked interest and hasn't put in enough resources.
"The nation has not really supported the armed forces because largely it's been an unpopular war lately."
HAVE YOUR SAYAny soldier who has seen active service and been involved in a battle should have a lot more from the country than 'greater welfare support' Andy Walker, Mainz, Germany Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYAny soldier who has seen active service and been involved in a battle should have a lot more from the country than 'greater welfare support' Andy Walker, Mainz, Germany Send us your comments
Other measures include priority access to social housing for the injured, and guarantees that service personnel and their families retain their place on NHS waiting lists even if they are posted to a new base.
It will also offer free university education for servicemen and women leaving after at least six years of service, as well as better access to school places for service children.
Among the biggest complaints in a recent MoD survey were accommodation and long periods spent away from friends and families.Among the biggest complaints in a recent MoD survey were accommodation and long periods spent away from friends and families.
Some 40% said they were not satisfied with military accommodation, while 55% said they were not satisfied with the maintenance of their accommodation.
The MoD has already said it is committed to high-quality military housing, with £8bn being spent in the next 10 years.
Are you in the military, or do have a member of your family who might be affected by the government's announcement? What do you think of plans to boost compensation for wounded troops? Have you been affected by any of the other issues raised in the story? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Are you in the military, or do have a member of your family who might be affected by the government's announcement? What do you think of plans to boost compensation for wounded troops? Have you been affected by any of the other issues raised in the story? You can send us your experiences using the form below.
Your comments will be treated in the strictest of confidence and won't be published until we have contacted you.
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