Injured troops payout boost 'cheap'

Following heavy criticism over a series of cases, Defence Secretary Des Browne announced that forces personnel will be awarded cash for all the injuries they receive in a single incident - rather than just the three most serious.

The compensation will also be backdated, meaning that soldiers such as Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson - who was paralysed after being blown up in Afghanistan and received just £152,150 - will benefit. However, the 23-year-old's mother, Diane Dernie, insisted the Ministry of Defence should also have raised the £285,000 maximum limit for lump sum payouts.

"Ben and the other boys in this situation, they've given their all and they deserve not to have a life of worry for themselves and for their families, and we'll fight for that for them," she told a press conference in Sheffield. "Financial security and some kind of dignified life for these boys is still a long way off."

Lawyers representing Lance Bombardier Parkinson's family confirmed they had not ruled out their proposed legal action against the Government to challenge the scheme in a judicial review in the High Court.

Lance Bombardier Parkinson lost both his legs and suffered 37 other injuries including brain damage when his Land Rover was blown up while he was serving with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in September last year. However, because the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme only considered his three most serious injuries, he received little more than half the highest possible lump sum.

The size of the payout has been widely contrasted with the case of an RAF typist who received £484,000 from a civil claim after injuring a thumb.

Mrs Dernie accepted that her son will now almost certainly receive the full lump sum, as well as a guaranteed monthly income from the MoD for the rest of his life. But she said a larger up-front payment was vital to provide a home that could cater for his disabilities.

She accused ministers of only acting because they had come under pressure in the media, and trying to do "just enough" to stifle controversy. "I think timing, public pressure, these are the things that have forced this change, not any feeling of responsibility," she said.

However, Mr Browne insisted the Government was determined to fulfil its responsibility to troops, saying: "This review will benefit those with the most serious multiple injuries - and they will be compensated for all their injuries up to the full £285,000 lump sum payment."