§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make arrangements for service men and women to take out insurance cover against the risk of injury when on exercise.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonIt is a matter for individual service personnel to decide what levels of private insurance for death and injury they wish to obtain in the light of their own financial circumstances. The services have, however, negotiated with the private insurance sector a number of special arrangements to provide cover at favourable rates of premium. In addition, there are a number of charitable funds to which service personnel may subscribe, which make one-time payments to widows or other dependants on the death of a subscriber. We continue to investigate ways of improving the availability of insurance arrangements to ensure that service personnel can obtain appropriate levels of cover.
§ Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of his Department for ensuring that service men and women injured on exercise are eligible for compensation.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonSince the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, all service personnel are eligible for common law compensation for any injury sustained while on duty, or on Crown property, if that injury results from negligence on the part of the Ministry of Defence, its servants or agents.
Any payment of common law compensation would be in addition to the benefits available under the war pension and armed forces pension schemes for an injury which is attributable to service.