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Troop compensation to be doubled Army chief welcomes troop support
(about 5 hours later)
The government has announced that it will double the compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops. The head of the Army, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, has welcomed moves by the government to improve the support offered to soldiers and their families.
The maximum payment will increase from £285,000 to £570,000, on top of a guaranteed income payment for life. Compensation for the most gravely wounded troops will be doubled and it will be made easier for them to take up education after they leave the forces.
There will also be a smaller rise in the awards to service personnel who have sustained less serious injuries. The maximum compensation payment is to increase from £285,000 to £570,000, on top of an income payment for life.
Campaigners for better compensation have welcomed what they say is a government pledge to treat soldiers and their families more fairly. Gen Dannatt said was a "good start" but urged ministers to go further.
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. "This is a very good start: there are certain clear, concrete, progressive things in the paper and the prospect of a lot more."
'Duty to troops' Duty of care
But Gen Dannatt, speaking at an event held by the centre-left Progress think tank, said the situation remained "slightly out of kilter" within the terms of the military covenant - the government's duty of care to soldiers who risk their lives for their country.
The measures outlined by Defence Secretary Des Browne
"The demands, legitimate demands, placed on the military to conduct operations in Iraq and elsewhere has placed quite a burden on us," he continued.
"That is fine provided there is a balance in our ability to look after the legitimate needs of individuals."
He added: "So I welcome the service command paper, as I have welcomed quite a number of other things that have happened in the last 18 to 24 months, as significant steps towards rebalancing our covenant.
"It was out of kilter, it's coming back into kilter, and I would like to see it brought further back into kilter."
Free education
The compensation 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.
They 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.
Any increase in the compensation package is wonderful. As far as we are concerned they [wounded service personnel] can never get enough Bryn ParryHelp for Heroes Families welcome compensation
Free university education for servicemen and women leaving after at least six years of service will also be provided, as well as better access to school places for service children.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7511486.stm">Families welcome compensation Mr Browne said the compensation 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 injured before 2005 would not be automatically eligible for the increases.
Soldiers who received their injuries before 2005 will not be automatically eligible for the increases. 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.
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. 'Triumphant day'
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."
British Legion class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5118">Send us your comments
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." 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".
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 Royal British Legion's director general, Chris Simpkins, said: "This is a triumphant day for the Legion’s campaign to honour the covenant.”
Pte Jamie Cooper said wounded troops had been 'thrown in the gutter'.
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, 19, who was left crippled after a mortar attack in Iraq, said he was "delighted".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. Until now, the highest lump sum payment to soldiers has been £285,000. Doubling it 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 pay-outs 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.
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 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.
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.
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