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| MoD to double troop compensation | MoD to double troop compensation |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence is to double the level of compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops. | The Ministry of Defence is to double the level of compensation offered to the UK's most gravely wounded troops. |
| The maximum payment will increase to £570,000, on top of a guaranteed income payment for life. | The maximum payment will increase 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 fighting for better compensation say the increases are good news for "heroes" injured in the service of their country. 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 | |
| The measures - due to be unveiled by Defence Secretary Des Browne in Parliament later - 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 come after the Royal British Legion's campaign demanding that service personnel and their families receive better treatment and recognition from government and society. | |
| The Legion said that the "military covenant" - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - was not being upheld. | |
| Severe injuries | |
| Relatives of those severely injured in recent years such as Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson and Private Jamie Cooper have also campaigned for better compensation.Ben Parkinson's family have campaigned for greater compensation | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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: "Any increase in the compensation package is wonderful. | |
| "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." | |
| A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said the charity wanted to see the details of the package before making an official response, but described the reports as "very, very encouraging." | |
| Free university education | |
| The new strategy, co-ordinated across government departments, is aimed at delivering better access to public services and greater welfare support. | 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 that Mr Brown will outline to MPs 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. | 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. | 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 comments | 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 |
| Britain's forces have been serving on two medium-sized operations for longer periods than anticipated in Iraq and Afghanistan. | 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. | 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. | 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 already 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. |
| />Are you in the military? 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. name="say"> | |