§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it is necessary to differentiate between "compulsions contended to be fairly standard" and "contentions [that] may have political overtones" when disablement claims made under Article 4 of the Service Pensions Order (S.I. 1983/833) are being considered by the War Pensions Agency. [HL213]
§ The parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)When claims for War Disablement Pension are considered by the War Pensions Agency some contended service links are relatively straightforward but others are more complex, requiring careful consideration and perhaps some discussion with an expert caseworker who is a particularly experienced Medical Adviser. Following recent criticism of the phrase "political overtones", the use of this term has been reviewed to clarify its intentions, and a revised verison of the overarching guidance on this matter is in the process of being published.