Minister defends MoD appeal
- 00:02:34
- ITN
Minister defends MoD appeal
The Government is going ahead with an appeal against compensation awards to two injured servicemen, in spite of the fact that the move was judged "bonkers" by a top Defence aide. Labour MP Eric Joyce said that if the MoD won its controversial court action, it would be "a victory for bureaucracy over bravery", and he called for it to be dropped. However, No 10 has indicated that the Government has no plans to drop the case, which it describes as "ongoing". Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth stressed last week that the appeal process against the two awards was to make sure the compensation scheme stayed fair, "and compensates most of those who are seriously injured." However, he has brought forward a review of how the compensation scheme works. Despite criticising Government policy, the MoD has said that Eric Joyce will not lose his position as Mr Ainsworth's Parliamentary Private Secretary. An MoD source said: "Eric's obviously concerned about the issues but so is the Secretary of State, which is why he came back from holiday last week and brought forward the review of the compensation scheme as a matter of urgency." Mr Joyce's comments came as the former chief of the British Army, General Sir Mike Jackson, branded the MoD's attempt to reduce the compensation award "virtually incredible".
ITN | August 3, 2009
