§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums have been made in settlement of personal injury claims filed concerning Army personnel in each year since 1990. [132178]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence does not generally record the details of the settlements of personal injury cases brought by members of HM forces by individual service. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, the information sought in relation to members of HM forces since 1990 is shown as follows. The increase in compensation payments reflects the fact that prior to May 1987, service personnel were prevented from pursuing claims for compensation from the MOD by section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947. The increase in the value of settlements in recent years is mainly attributable to changes in the level of general damages recommended to the courts by the Judicial Studies Board and a change in the multiplier used to calculate future losses as directed by the Lord Chancellor and set out in the Damages Act 1996.
246W
Value of settlement (£ million) 1990–91 1.67 1991–92 2.39 1992–93 6.52 1993–94 8.29 1994–95 12.0 1995–96 12.6 1996–97 16.2 1997–98 26.8 1998–99 26.7 1999–2000 31.0 2000–01 36.6 2001–02 32.3 2002–03 40.0