Re: What price the life of a British soldier?
- From: ®i©ardo <Here@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:21:05 GMT
Toom Tabard wrote:
On 2 Sep, 09:35, Robin T Cox <nom...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:What price the life of a British soldier?
The quite shocking disparity between City bosses and ordinary people has
never been better exemplified than by the case of Lance-Bombardier Ben
Parkinson
It may indeed be unfair and inadequate, but we can only judge the
extent of that if we also know what other pension or ongoing support
and disability benefits will also be payable in the short and long
term.
Toom
I think the sole reason for the Guardian/Observer article is to stir up shit.
It would be fairer to make comparisons under a common employer - the Government, such as MoD typists or civil servants versus serving members of the armed forces, not just choosing a comparison factor at random, such as armed forces versus the British banking system.
Let's have a look at some FACTS within the armed forces:
War Disablement Pension, Other Ranks - (Payable on a Wednesday):
Assessment Weekly Rate
100% £139.70
90% £125.73
80% £111.76
70% £97.79
60% £83.82
50% £69.85
40% £55.88
30% £41.91
20% £27.94
Officers -(Payday is variable)
Assessment Yearly rate
100% £7,290
90% £6,561
80% £5,832
70% £5,103
60% £4,374
50% £3,645
40% £2,916
30% £2,817
20% £1,458
Allowances and supplements for disablement pensioners
Unemployability supplement
Personal allowance, officers £4,506 pa, other ranks £86.35 per week.
....and so on, so there is virtually no difference between ranks. There are also "constant attendance allowances", subject to a maximum of £5,500 per year for "exceptional" cases.
Unfortunately the relevant leaflet "Rates of War Disablement Pensions and allowances 2007-2008" does not give figures for major injuries as suffered by L/Bombardier Parkinson, although the lump sum is said to be £152,150. Such awards do not, however, compare with the Ministry of Defence typist RSI to thumb compensation award of £484,000.
I think far more good would be done by looking at the gross inefficiencies of the state systems rather than trying to compare them with something which is not relevant. This link relates to Jamie Cooper, the youngest British soldier to be injured in Iraq, and woefully let down by the system.
http://www.epost.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=18280210&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922
A fighting fund has been launched by Ben's family, on his behalf, to assist men such as these. He's taking the MOD to a High Court judicial review to try to force them to make the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme more generous for the most badly wounded blokes - scrapping the daft rule whereby only 3 injuries per incident can be taken into account, and scrapping the upper limit. It's a test case which would help another dozen or so badly injured men.
He's not entitled to legal aid, and £50,000 is needed to fight the case and the public have sent in an impressive £22,000 so far, following the launch of an appeal in the Daily Mail.
If he wins, chances are a number of future casualties will also have reason to be very grateful. Should you wish to, you can donate online or via phone banking into the following Lloyds TSB account:
Account name: 'Protect Our Protectors Fighting Fund'
Sort Code: 30-94-80
Account number: 0027 2518
Or send cheques payable to that account to:
PPFF
PO Box 95
Aldershot
Hants
GU11 9GL
Ben, speaking through a through a keyboard-activated voice synthesiser, told his Mum: 'Now I know we are not alone. We have not been forgotten.'
Having served as a paratrooper some 40 years ago and having been invalided out with pelvic, spinal and other injuries following a parachuting accident I feel for these guys. At least in my day we had dedicated military hospitals, which did make a difference - even if I'm still not "quite right"!
--
Moving things in still pictures!
.
- References:
- What price the life of a British soldier?
- From: Robin T Cox
- Re: What price the life of a British soldier?
- From: Toom Tabard
- What price the life of a British soldier?
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