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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| More money for injured UK troops | More money for injured UK troops |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The most seriously injured troops will receive more money under changes to the armed forces compensation scheme. | The most seriously injured troops will receive more money under changes to the armed forces compensation scheme. |
| Those hurt will receive up to £285,000 for all injuries suffered in a single incident - rather than just the three most serious, as had been the case. | Those hurt will receive up to £285,000 for all injuries suffered in a single incident - rather than just the three most serious, as had been the case. |
| Payments will be backdated, meaning Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson who was given £152,150 for injuries sustained in September 2006, will benefit. | |
| The government said personnel could also received tax-free income payments. | |
| 'Increase maximum' | |
| Payments under the compensation scheme will be made retrospectively back to April 2005. | |
| Sources at the Ministry of Defence said Mr Parkinson would now receive the £285,000 lump sum payment. | |
| His mother, Diane Dernie, said she was "pleased that the changes will result in increased payments". | |
| However, she said she would have expected an increase to the maximum payout figure. | However, she said she would have expected an increase to the maximum payout figure. |
| We would just ask that this scheme had looked at care needs for the rest of the boys' lives rather than this absolute ceiling figure Diane Dernie, mother of injured soldier | We would just ask that this scheme had looked at care needs for the rest of the boys' lives rather than this absolute ceiling figure Diane Dernie, mother of injured soldier |
| "I still feel that financial security and some kind of dignity for these boys is still a long way off," she said, pointing out that housing and care needs for the rest of their lives meant those injured would need to rely heavily on their families. | "I still feel that financial security and some kind of dignity for these boys is still a long way off," she said, pointing out that housing and care needs for the rest of their lives meant those injured would need to rely heavily on their families. |
| She said her son, and others in similar situations, had "given their all" and "deserve not to have a life of worry for themselves and their families". | She said her son, and others in similar situations, had "given their all" and "deserve not to have a life of worry for themselves and their families". |
| "We would just ask that this scheme had looked at care needs for the rest of the boys' lives rather than this absolute ceiling figure," she added. | "We would just ask that this scheme had looked at care needs for the rest of the boys' lives rather than this absolute ceiling figure," she added. |
| Mrs Dernie said, ultimately, the compensation amounted to "figures on a balance sheet" and she felt the MoD was trying to "dispose of those injured as cheaply as possible". | Mrs Dernie said, ultimately, the compensation amounted to "figures on a balance sheet" and she felt the MoD was trying to "dispose of those injured as cheaply as possible". |
| Changes to the MoD's compensation follow the completion of a review into the multiple injury rules of the scheme. | Changes to the MoD's compensation follow the completion of a review into the multiple injury rules of the scheme. |
| Life-long care | Life-long care |
| An MoD spokesman also said artificial limbs for injured soldiers, such as Mr Parkinson, would be provided until the person was discharged - and provided by the NHS thereafter. | An MoD spokesman also said artificial limbs for injured soldiers, such as Mr Parkinson, would be provided until the person was discharged - and provided by the NHS thereafter. |
| Answering the criticism regarding life-long care, he said those injured would also receive "tax-free, index-linked guaranteed income payments for the rest of their life, and they may also be entitled to additional state benefits". | Answering the criticism regarding life-long care, he said those injured would also receive "tax-free, index-linked guaranteed income payments for the rest of their life, and they may also be entitled to additional state benefits". |
| Mr Parkinson is reportedly one of the most seriously injured soldiers to survive. | Mr Parkinson is reportedly one of the most seriously injured soldiers to survive. |
| The paratrooper lost both his legs as well as suffering a brain injury, fractures to his skull, cheekbone, nose, jaw, pelvis and vertebrae, in addition to serious damage to his spleen and chest. | The paratrooper lost both his legs as well as suffering a brain injury, fractures to his skull, cheekbone, nose, jaw, pelvis and vertebrae, in addition to serious damage to his spleen and chest. |
| Typist's thumb | Typist's thumb |
| The 23-year-old, who had been serving with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Afghanistan, was awarded £152,000 lump sum because rules of the scheme meant that most of his wounds counted for nothing. | The 23-year-old, who had been serving with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in Afghanistan, was awarded £152,000 lump sum because rules of the scheme meant that most of his wounds counted for nothing. |
| However, in comparison, an RAF typist who damaged her thumb at the Ministry of Defence in London received a payout of £484,000. | However, in comparison, an RAF typist who damaged her thumb at the Ministry of Defence in London received a payout of £484,000. |
| Her injury payment was made in a civil case and included loss of earnings and legal fees, as well as a sum for pain and suffering. | Her injury payment was made in a civil case and included loss of earnings and legal fees, as well as a sum for pain and suffering. |
| The payment made to her was not from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, unlike Mr Parkinson. | The payment made to her was not from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, unlike Mr Parkinson. |