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Better support for forces on way MoD to double troop compensation
(about 4 hours later)
Better support for armed forces personnel, veterans and their families is to be announced by the government. The Ministry of Defence is to double the level of compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops.
The new strategy, co-ordinated across government departments, is aimed at delivering better access to public services and greater welfare support. The maximum payment will increase to £570,000, on top of a guaranteed income payment for life.
Areas such as education, accommodation and NHS treatment will be covered. There will also be a smaller rise in the awards to service personnel who have sustained less serious injuries.
It follows a Royal British Legion campaign to ensure personnel and their families receive "fitting" recognition from government and society. The measures are part of a wider package aimed at ensuring personnel and their families are better looked after in areas such as education and housing.
The forces charity maintained the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - was not being upheld.
Defence Secretary Des Browne is due to unveil the Command Paper setting out the new strategy to Parliament.Defence Secretary Des Browne is due to unveil the Command Paper setting out the new strategy to Parliament.
Campaign strains It comes after a Royal British Legion campaign demanded service personnel and their families receive fitting treatment and recognition from government and society.
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says that 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 serving personnel. The forces charity maintained the Military Covenant - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - was not being upheld.
Britain's forces have been from serving on two medium-sized operations for longer periods than anticipated in Iraq and Afghanistan. University education
A Ministry of Defence survey last week suggested that 47% of the Armed Forces had thought regularly about leaving. Relatives of those severely injured in recent years such as Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson and Private Jamie Cooper have campaigned for greater compensation.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY class="" href="Link to thread">The best support we can give our soldiers is only to call on them in times of need. Any 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 Ben Parkinson's family have campaigned for greater compensation
On Sunday, the Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup said in a BBC interview that he expected "a firm commitment to deliver" from the government when Defence Secretary Des Browne reveals the Command Paper setting out the new strategy to Parliament. Until now, the highest lump sum payment to soldiers like Lance Bombardier Parkinson - who lost both legs and suffered brain damage in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan in 2006, was £285,000.
It was reported on Sunday that the paper would include plans to give service personnel free university education after they end their duty with the armed forces. That is expected to be doubled as part of a move that should help at least 80 of the most seriously wounded troops. Another 80 or so men and women with less serious injuries should also see their payouts raised.
Personnel who complete six years' service in the Army, Royal Navy or RAF will qualify for the scheme, with the government paying tuition fees to study for GCSEs, A-levels, university degrees or other qualifications. 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.
Among the biggest complaints in the recent MoD survey of opinion across the Army, Navy, RAF and Royal Marines, were accommodation and long periods spent away from friends and families. The new strategy, co-ordinated across government departments, is aimed at delivering better access to public services and greater welfare support.
Other measures in the Command Paper are expected to include priority access to social housing for the injured, and moves to ensure 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.
Housing complaints
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.
HAVE YOUR SAY The best support we can give our soldiers is only to call on them in times of need. Any 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
Britain's forces have been serving on two medium-sized operations for longer periods than anticipated in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A recent MoD survey of opinion across the Army, Navy, RAF and Royal Marines suggested that 47% of the Armed Forces had thought regularly about leaving.
Among the biggest complaints 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.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 said it was committed to high-quality military housing, with £8bn being spent in the next 10 years. The MoD has already said it was committed to high-quality military housing, with £8bn being spent in the next 10 years.