Pay hope for injured UK soldiers

Sir David Richards is the army's second most senior officer

British troops who are injured in service could be in line for much greater compensation pay-outs, a senior army officer has said.

The commander-in-chief of land forces, Gen Sir David Richards, said there was a belief more needed to be done.

He told the Sunday Telegraph ministers "share the view that the compensation package is not quite right".

It comes amid concern at the levels of compensation paid to service personnel who have sustained severe injuries.

'Under review'

In the interview, Sir David added: "I can reassure you that there is an acceptance in the Ministry of Defence, not just in the military, that this whole area needs re-examination."

However, he said the system "can't be changed overnight".

But the Ministry of Defence said its position had not changed.

This is unfinished business Nick Harvey Liberal Democrat defence spokesman

Defence Secretary Des Browne said the government had a duty to look after injured soldiers.

In a statement he said the more seriously injured received a tax-free lump sum plus monthly tax-free and index-linked payments for life.

"Over a lifetime this can amount to many hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"We have kept the system under review - and will continue to keep it under review," he said.

"I want to reassure the families of our brave injured service personnel that we will continue to honour the sacrifice that they have made."

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said it would be "very welcome" if the MoD were to look further at the issue.

"The contrast between payouts to our seriously injured soldiers and that recently made to an Iraqi civilian leave the public feeling that this is unfinished business," Mr Harvey added.

"Although ministers argue that injured troops receive an ongoing war pension, this does not provide enough money up front to cover the cost of adapting to life after debilitating injury."

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