HC Deb 11 December 2002 vol 396 cc343-4W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many claims from(a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens for compensation are outstanding against his Department for accidents; how many claims have been outstanding for more than (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three years; and if he will make a statement; [85874]

(2) how many outstanding claims there are for compensation for his Department from civilian employees for work-related accidents; how many are more than (a) one year and (b) two years old; and if he will make a statement; [85872]

(3) how many outstanding claims for compensation his Department is dealing with relating to service personnel who received injuries at the time of duty; how many have been outstanding for more than (a) one, (b) two and (c) three years; and if he will make a statement. [85873]

Dr. Moonie

The claims databases operated by the Ministry of Defence and its contracted claims handlers do not record information in such a way to distinguish between claims for compensation from United Kingdom and non-UK citizens. The following table sets out the number of current outstanding personal injury related claims against MOD from both UK and non-UK citizens.

More than one years More than two years More than three years Total number of outstanding claims
11,654 694 1,015 5,687

The current number of outstanding claims against the Ministry of Defence from civilian employees for work related accidents are as follows:

More than one year More than two years Total number of outstanding claims
534 298 1,390

The current number of outstanding claims against the Ministry of Defence from Service personnel for injuries suffered on duty are as follows:

More than one More than two years More than three years Total number of outstanding claims
1,007 425 499 3,739

When compensation claims are submitted, they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability to pay compensation we do so. Most claims are settled amicably on a legal liability basis without recourse to the courts.