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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 27 March 2003
DEFENCE
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations he has received within the last 12 months about changes to the criteria in the armed forces compensation scheme for service personnel claiming disability compensation; and if he will make a statement; [105299]
- (2) whether it is his intention to change the criteria of the armed forces compensation scheme for service personnel claiming disability compensation from the basis of reasonable doubt to the balance of probability; and if he will make a statement. [105300]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence currently provides compensation for death and disablement caused or aggravated by service under two schemes, the War Pension Scheme (WPS) and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS). Each scheme operates under separate legislation and the standard of proof applied to claims under the two schemes is different.
The War Pension Scheme was introduced in 1917 and its generous standard of proof reflects in particular the limits of medical understanding of the time. Claims may be made at any time after service release. Specifically, where a claim is made to a War Pension within seven years of termination of service, the onus is wholly on the Secretary of State to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the disablement was not due to service. Where a claim is made more than seven years after termination, the onus rests on the claimant to raise reasonable doubt by reliable evidence that the disablement is due to service, the claimant receiving the benefit of any reasonable doubt. The attributable benefits elements of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme introduced attributable pensions in 1973. This applies to disablements leading to medical discharge; it considers claims against the balance of probabilities standard of proof, in line with most other such schemes and the practice of civil courts. It places the onus of proof on the individual.
It has not been considered appropriate so far to change these arrangements but the issue has been considered within the current review of armed forces compensation arrangements. In March 2001, we published proposals for a new armed forces compensation scheme based entirely on the balance of probabilities standard of proof A number of respondents have expressed their concern that this would not be appropriate to the special status of the armed forces and the demands placed on them. This view has been particularly strongly represented by ex-service organisations. We have been in close consultation with these and other interested groups and will continue
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to work with the ex-service community in finalising the details of the new scheme. We expect to make a final decision on the broad design of a new scheme shortly.
Correspondence
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to reply to the letter dated 28 January from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Ms H. Forsyth of Banff. [105140]
Dr. Moonie: I wrote to the hon. Member on 13 February 2003, within our 15 working day target for answering ministerial correspondence.
Gulf (US Contracts)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of contracts with the United States for (a) rations, (b) clothing, (c) footwear and (d) logistical services for UK forces in the Gulf. [103733]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 18 March 2003]: The United Kingdom has a long-standing bilateral arrangement with the United States that enables our personnel to receive logistical services and food from US and local sources. This arrangement provides a framework of enabling contracts, some elements of which are calculated on anticipated daily consumption rates and others on term hire rates. These arrangements apply mainly to base camps and are likely to remain in place for the duration of operations in Iraq. We also contract for support services independently where this is more appropriate. In addition, a number of items of clothing and footwear have been acquired from the US at a cost of around £250,000.
Iraq
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the funding allocated to his Ministry for humanitarian relief in Iraq. [105007]
Mr. Ingram: The ambit of Defence Votes does not ordinarily include funding for humanitarian aid, which is a Department for International Development responsibility. However, £30 million has been made available, so far, for the conflict in Iraq, to cover the United Kingdom's legal requirements under the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilians in Time of War.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the protocol for media access to (a) information and (b) field operations during the conflict in Iraq. [105373]
Dr. Moonie: Arrangements between the media and the Ministry of Defence during the conflict in Iraq are conducted in accordance with the details laid out in the Green Book—"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War". This covers the practical arrangements for enabling media representatives to report events both at home and abroad and includes our plans for representative numbers of correspondents to accompany British Forces in the frontline. It also outlines the policy that would facilitate or restrict the activities of journalists
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during operations. A copy of the Green Book is available on the MOD website, at: www.mod.uk/news/green book/index, htm
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on arrangements he has made with the media to ensure that there is no release of information on casualties prior to the next of kin being informed. [105374]
Dr. Moonie: Arrangements between the media and the Ministry of Defence during the conflict in Iraq are conducted in accordance with the details laid out in the Green Book—"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War". The document has been made available to the media and has been placed on the MOD website at:
www.mod.uk/news/green book/index.htm
The MOD recognises that casualty information is of legitimate interest to the media and the general public. However, the Green Book explains that our casualty notification process has been developed to minimise the distress of the families concerned, and states that the names of casualties will not be released or confirmed until the next of kin have been told officially. We recognise that on occasions the media may become aware of the names of individual casualties before official announcements are made. Editors are urged not to publish such information, gained from whatever source—even if it comes directly from a next of kin—until it is released or confirmed by the MOD. Editors are also urged to exercise extreme discretion in approaching next of kin.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the advice he has given to the (a) print and (b) broadcast media to permit them to have access to the conflict in Iraq whilst maintaining personal safety. [105375]
Dr. Moonie: In relation to war correspondents embedded with United Kingdom forces in the Gulf, the arrangements for the print and broadcast media are conducted in accordance with the guidance set out in the Green Book, which is entitled "Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War". A copy of this is available on the Ministry of Defence web-site (www.MOD.UK).
The Green Book sets out the arrangements for the selection of, and regulations for, accredited war correspondents. In return for protection and support, and access to other facilities, correspondents agree to undergo the necessary training and to abide by the operational security and safety measures required by the unit to which they are attached.
The Ministry of Defence has no responsibility for the activities of independent media personnel. The current FCO travel advice is not to travel to Iraq. This advice has been strongly emphasised to the media by the Ministry of Defence.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) print and (b) broadcast journalists are accredited to coalition forces in Iraq; and how many are accredited to British forces. [105376]
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Dr. Moonie: There are 128 print and broadcast journalists accredited to British forces in the Gulf. The Ministry of Defence does not hold the number of journalists that are currently in Iraq or the number of journalists accredited to coalition forces.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring his Department undertakes of reports from (a) print and (b) broadcast journalists operating in Iraq. [105377]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not exclusively monitor reports from print and broadcast journalists operating in Iraq. However, we do receive a daily press cutting service highlighting stories in the printed media with a defence interest and, during the present crisis, we have appointed a watchkeeper in our Press Office to monitor the broadcast output from the main channels. The Media Monitoring Unit of the Cabinet Office also provides the Department with a daily Iraq briefing.
Separately, we have let a contract to provide a weekly evaluation of the printed media's coverage of the Iraq crisis.
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