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MoD to double troop compensation Troop compensation to be doubled
(about 2 hours later)
The Ministry of Defence is to double the level of 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 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 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 Campaigners fighting for better compensation say the increases are good news for "heroes" injured in the service of their country.
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. 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.
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. 'Duty to troops'
The Legion said that the "military covenant" - which guarantees soldiers fair treatment in return for forgoing other rights - was not being upheld. Mr Browne said that the government had a "fundemental duty" to support troops and their families.
"The measures will imake 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
"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."
The committment was welcomed by military chiefs - including Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup.
Siir Jock said they would "ensure our Armed Forces and their dependants are not disadvantaged by their service life."
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.
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.”
The Covenant is being brought back into balance – and I congratulate the government for putting a mechanism in place for the Legion and other Service-related charities to monitor the health of the Covenant for years to come.”
Severe injuriesSevere 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 Relatives of those severely injured in recent years also welcomed the news.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.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.""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 educationFree 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. 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.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''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.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.""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
Britain's forces have been serving on two medium-sized operations for longer periods than anticipated in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among the biggest complaints in a recent MoD survey were accommodation and long periods spent away from friends and families.
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 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 is 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.
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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