§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been paid by his Department in each year since 1990. [132736]
§ Mr. CaplinRecords going back to 1990 on how much compensation has been paid by the Ministry of Defence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the information sought in relation to compensation paid, which includes legal costs, since financial year 1997–98 is shown in the following table.
Compensation paid (£ million) 1997–98 70 1998–99 76 1999–2000 83 2000–01 88.5 2001–02 91.5 2002–03 104 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. For a breakdown of the figures, as well as further details regarding compensation issues associated with the Ministry of Defence, I refer my hon. Friend to the Department's Claims Annual Report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House each year.