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MoD challenge 'possibly' mistaken UK Afghan casualty rate increases
(about 4 hours later)
The defence secretary has said it was "possibly" a mistake for the government to seek to reduce payouts to servicemen wounded on active service. British forces in Afghanistan suffered their highest injury rate this month since the mission began in 2001, new Ministry of Defence figures show.
But Bob Ainsworth told the BBC the case had to be brought to clear up confusion over compensation payments. A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone, compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May.
He was speaking after ministers agreed to bring forward a general review of armed forces compensation rules. Of the injuries in the first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded.
The legal bid by the MoD to try to cut the compensation awarded to two injured servicemen was widely criticised. July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began.
A tribunal had awarded the servicemen extra compensation because of health problems they developed after their initial compensation was decided. The rise in injuries and deaths has come as coalition forces completed the first phase of their heaviest offensive yet - Operation Panther's Claw - against the Taliban ahead of elections on 20 August.
Pressed on whether it was a mistake to launch the court challenge to reduce their payments, Mr Ainsworth told Radio 4's Today programme: "In isolation, it possibly was, but we had to clarify the situation that we were left with with the tribunal. Along with 38 UK personnel who were admitted to field hospitals suffering from disease or a non-battle injury in the first two weeks in July, there have now been some 2,650 casualties in Afghanistan since the start of MoD records in 2006.
"What I couldn't have is people with the exact same injury getting different levels of compensation and what I couldn't have is people with the most serious injuries not having that reflected in the payments that were made. This year, 61 have been "seriously" or "very seriously" hurt, compared with a total of 65 for the whole of 2008.
"Those two things had to be sorted out." We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations Lt Col Nigel Tai class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8176280.stm">New life 'tough' after losing limb
'Points of view' The figures on casualties provided by the MoD do not include deaths, which are tallied separately.
The review of the compensation scheme will involve consultation with legal experts, service charities, troops and their families. A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams.
Mr Ainsworth confirmed that, while the review would not be independent, it would "take other people's points of view". Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations.
Meanwhile the Court of Appeal action launched by the Ministry of Defence will still go ahead, despite criticism from, among others, the Conservatives and injured Falklands veteran Simon Weston. "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life."
The MoD is seeking to reduce the awards of £46,000 and £28,750 made by a Pensions Appeal Tribunal to Cpl Anthony Duncan of the Light Dragoons and Marine Matthew McWilliams. 'Possible mistake'
The tribunal increased those payments from the original awards of £9,250 and £8,250 respectively. Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it had "possibly" been a mistake for the government to seek to reduce payouts made by a pensions appeal tribunal to two wounded servicemen.
The men had argued they had suffered a number of subsequent health problems during their treatment and these should not be regarded as separate from their original injuries. But he told the BBC the case had to be brought to clear up confusion over compensation payments.
Later on Thursday the MoD is due to release updated figures on the number of soldiers injured in Afghanistan in July, including those hurt in the current anti-Taliban offensive, Operation Panther's Claw. Mr Ainsworth said: "In isolation, it possibly was [a mistake], but we had to clarify the situation that we were left with with the tribunal.
"What I couldn't have is people with the exact same injury getting different levels of compensation and what I couldn't have is people with the most serious injuries not having that reflected in the payments that were made."
Meanwhile a plane carrying the bodies of the latest British soldiers killed in blasts in Afghanistan has arrived back at a military base.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, and Trooper Phillip Lawrence, of The Light Dragoons, died in separate explosions in Helmand province on 27 July.
Bombardier Craig Hopson, of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, died on 25 July in a roadside bomb attack.
After the three men's families pay their respects at the chapel at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, the cortege is due to drive through the town of Wootton Bassett later.