§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what criteria are used by the Ministry to determine whether ex gratia payments should be made to ex-service personnel who have sustained serious injuries during their service in the armed forces; [35731]
(2) what is the number and total value of ex gratia payments made to ex-service personnel in respect of injuries they sustained during their service in the armed forces in each of the last 10 years. [35720]
§ Dr. ReidAn ex gratia payment is one made where no legal liability to pay exists. Except for two special categories of claim, relating to injuries sustained by criminal activity overseas and accidental injuries sustained by Service personnel voluntarily involved in research trials, it is my Department's policy to consider claims for compensation from ex-Service personnel only138W on the basis of its legal liability. With the exception of the two schemes mentioned above, no criteria exist for assessing whether ex gratia payments should be made. No ex gratia payments have been made by my Department to ex-Service personnel in respect of injuries sustained during their service in the ten year period ending 31 December 1997.