§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review for compensation arrangements for those killed and disabled during service with the armed forces will be completed; how the review will be presented to Parliament; if payments resulting from the review will be retrospective; and if he will make a statement. [154044]
§ Mr. SpellarI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Murphy) on 16 March 2001,Official Report, column 756W. This stage of the review has taken longer than expected because of legal and financial complexities. It is proposed that any new scheme would be introduced for all incidents giving rise to illness injury or death after the date of introduction. Claims relating to incidents which occurred before this time would continue to be covered by the existing arrangements. Following consultation, we expect to take final decisions on the review by early next year, when we will inform Parliament in the normal way.