QUALIFICATION FOR WAR PENSIONS

Early day motion 301, tabled 16 December 2003 by Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative). Signed by 167 members.

That this House shares the concerns of the Royal British Legion regarding the qualification for a war pension pursuant to the provisions of the new Armed Forces Pension Scheme and compensation schemes, namely, that the change from the MoD being required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that any injury or illness was not caused as a result of time in service, to its being required only to meet a balance of probabilities test and the requirement that there should be a five-year time limit to claim a war pension after 2005 could, together, reduce successful claims for war pensions by up to 60 per cent.; and calls on the Government to review the application criteria for war pensions so that the interests of those military personnel who are injured in service are fully safeguarded.

Signatures by party: Conservative 78, Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 26, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 4, Scottish National Party 3, DUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, UUP 1.