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23-year old paratrooper Ben Parkinson severely injured by landmine treated as a statistic by a unfeeling and ungrateful and parsimonious MoD. * How can we call ourselves a decent society if brave men like Ben need to beg for handouts? by Max Hastings [Daily Mail-Wednesday, August 29,2007]
THE STORY of lance Bombardier Parkinson, revealed in yesterday's Daily Mail, has shocked even those accustomed to the madnesses of GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY. The 23-year-old paratrooper blown up by a landmine in Afghanistan last year lost both legs and suffered other multiple injuries. YET the MoD has told him he will receive only £152,150 with which to rebuild his life, little more than half the maximum award allowed under the ARMED SERVICES COMPENSATION SCHEME. The amount is paltry, by comparison with the sums given to 'traumatised' teachers, mistreated jail inmates and-most notoriously -the £484,000 awarded to an RAF typist who allegedly suffered repetitive strain injury to her thumb.
Sometimes, in cases of this kind, after a surge of publicity it emerges that the facts are not quite as they seem, that apparent injustice is less disgraceful than we were led to suppose. But military sources confirm That the treatment of Ben Parkinson -is indeed a scandal. 'This chap is a real airborne soldier with incredible guts, whose survival is a miracle', says one officer. 'At every turn, when he is expected to die, he pulled through by sheer determination. 'Now he's got to make a new life for himself. it's hard to see how he can do it on a £150,000 lump sum and a pension of £19,000 a year.
'He will hardly have enough to pay for a full-time carer.'
Chasm.
At a time when there is already grave concern about over-stretch and under-reward for British soldiers fighting two bloody wars, the case of Ben Parkinson highlights the chasm between what such a man deserves from his country, and what the Government is trying to get away with giving him. Of course there must be a system. There must be rules for injury compensation, as there are for everything else under Whitehall's control. But the application of the rules in this case is Lunatic.
The largest sum payable under the Armed Forces Compensation Fund is £285,000 mean enough in the modern world. Common sense demands that even if Ben Parkinson gets no more , he should immediately qualify for the MAXIMUM. How could any man get closer to death, or suffer more terrible injuries, than he has?
BUT 'the rules' decree that , instead of starting at the top number and working downwards, compensation begins at zero. After granting Parkinson fixed sums for the loss of his legs, he is entitled to grotesquely little extra for all his other injuries, including loss of spleen, and brain and spinal damage.. We can imagine the Treasury's number-crunchers flicking their calculators and scribbling a total on the pro forma letter to the young man. None of those who do this tawdry arithmetic has ever heard a shot fired in anger, or begins to understand the nature of the battle, or what it means to be blown out of a Land Rover by a devastating explosion which tears human bodies asunder. The Whitehall bureaucrats had better start learning quickly, because there are going to be more such cases. Medical treatment of battle casualties has advanced dramatically, even over the past five years. A substantial number of men who would have died in World War II, in the Falklands, even in Northern Ireland a decade ago, are now surviving. But they must live with the consequences of wounds which will make it almost impossible for them to resume their old lives. THEY WILL NEED SPECIALIST CARE FOR THE REST OF THEIR DAYS.
Only money -a lot of money-can help them achieve DIGNITY AND A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING A lump sum of money of £152,000 invested, will produce barely £10,000 a year income. What can anybody do with £10,000 in this day and age?
We know that a man who volunteers for a career in the Army puts his life on the line. That is part of the soldier's contract the Military Covenant', BUT THE OTHER indispensable, part of the COVENANT is that if he suffers such a TRAGEDY -as has befallen Ben Parkinson THE ARMY and ultimately THE COUNTRY WILL TAKE PROPER CARE OF HIM.
Today we have seen the COVENANT broken again and again, by a GOVERNMENT which wills WARS But refuses to accept responsibility for their consequences, whether POLITICAL MORAL OR FINANCIAL *
Trauma
I have never forgotten a young man I knew in the Falklands 25 years ago. he lost a foot in action. Ten years after the war ended I arranged a drink with him. Stupidly, I thought one could suffer worse misfortunes than losing a foot. I expected him to be getting on with his life I WAS WRONG In a few minutes conversation I understood that his experience on the battlefield had come close to destroying him. He had never recovered mentally from the TRAUMA. I am told that he has not done so to the day.
I came away from that encounter humbled by the realisation that the South Atlantic war, for me a wonderful adventure, had been for him an almost irrevocable tragedy. SO IT IS FOR THE WORST VICTIMS OF EVERY WAR. Everyone who has met Ben Parkinson since he was flown home has been awed by the indomitable courage and cheerfulness which he has displayed. HE REFUSED TO GIVE UP -and is now making amazing progress at the ARMY'S Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre. But it would be absurd to imagine that his life can again be WHAT IT WAS as a 6ft 4in paratrooper , bursting with FITNESS and ENERGY. It does not matter what any of us think about the merits or otherwise of Britain's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When our government sends our soldiers to fight IN OUR NAME on the other side of the world, society assumes a responsibility towards them which few British people want our rulers to be allowed to SHIRK
Injuries Almost daily, judges are making compensation awards to civilians for alleged injuries and misfortunes which are footling by comparison with those incurred by some soldiers on the BATTLEFIELD If Ben Parkinson had suffered similar injuries in a car crash, his insurers would have paid out vastly more money without blinking. Service charities are called upon for ever more assistance in these cases. In a decent world, however, no battlefield casualty should need to look to handouts to secure his future, THE STATE EMPLOYED HIM THE STATE SENT HIM TO FIGHT THE STATE SHOULD ENSURE HIS SUBSEQUENT WELFARE AS OF RIGHT The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme was devised in 2001 and implemented in 2005
BUT ALREADY IT IS WHOLLY OUTDATED The ceiling on the top award must be substantially increased to at least £400,000 A far more humane system of assessment is needed which takes proper account of cumulative injuries. By the mad logic of the present arrangement, Ben Parkinson , who almost died apparently needed to display even more appalling disabilities to qualify for the [inadequate] amount. IT IS A SAD, SICK STORY which would SHAME The Ministry of Defence IF THEY WERE CAPABLE OF SUCH A FEELING. Soldiers from top to bottom of the Army are disgusted by what has happened AND SO THEY SHOULD.
JUSTICE IS NEEDED NOT ONLY FOR Ben Parkinson and other men in similarly grievous circumstances, but also for BRITAIN'S REPUTATION as a decent society in which those who earn our GRATITUDE Receive it without the need to throw themselves upon the generosity of the PUBLIC. * * * BEN'S BATTLE: HOW YOU CAN HELP Severely injured in Afghanistan Ben Parkinson is offered the usual pittance from the MoD. With twelve injuries from loss of both legs above the knee to many fractures he is only entitled to receive compensation for three. £115,000 plus additional payments of £34,500 and £1650. which for someone so badly injured and needing special care for the rest of his life is a derisory payment when compared to a payout to an RAF typist of £484,000 for an injured thumb. The Daily Mail has asked its readers wishing to help Ben Parkinson's LEGAL BATTLE can make cheques payable to: Protect Our Protectors Fighting Fund and post to: PPFF, PO Box 95 Aldershot, Hants, GU11 9GL ANY SURPLUS FUNDS raised will be split equally between THE BRITISH LEGION -THE BRITISH LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION -THE SOLDIERS, AIRMAN and FAMILIES ASSOCIATION and the ROYAL HOSPITAL for NEURODISABILITY in PUTNEY -where Ben was treated for months.
IT IS TIME MORE REALISTIC PAYMENTS WERE GIVEN TO OUR BRAVE FIGHTING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN In the meantime THEY DESPERATELY NEED YOUR SUPPORT
* * * [Font Altered-Bolding & Underling Used-Comments in Brackets] *
[THE LAST TEN YEARS HAS SEEN A TRANSFORMATION IN OUR SOCIETY TO A LESS COMPASSIONATE ONE TO ONE WHERE THE ELDERLY-THE SICK -VICTIMS OF CRIME AND OTHERS ARE OF NO MATTER.
THE RICH ARE GETTING RICHER AND MANY PAY NO TAX AND THE POOR ARE GETTING POORER AND MUST PAY MORE TAX. MASSIVE SUMS OF MONEY HAVE BEEN ARE STILL WASTED AND BILLIONS SPENT ON SURVEILLANCE AND DATA IN A GROWING CENTRALISED AND TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT UNDER THE VERY NOSES OF OUR ONCE FREE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
WE HAVE GREEDY REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE ONLY TO SAY LET US TAKE MORE AND A GROWING ELITE GATHERING STRENGTH WHICH MUST HAVE MORE. THE COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE RICHEST IN THE WORLD BUT ITS REPUTATION AS A DECENT AND COMPASSIONATE AND LAWFUL COUNTRY HAVE BEEN UNDERMINED BY ILLEGAL WAR AND INTERFERENCE IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHER NATION STATES WHICH IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS PASSED 3000 LAWS IN A SOCIETY WHICH HAS GROWING VIOLENT CRIME - A MASSIVE IMMIGRATION IN AN ALREADY OVER-CROWDED LAND SECOND TO HOLLAND AND NOW INTENDS TO SELL YOUR COUNTRY TO A FOREIGN POWER.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT WE MUST DO MORE TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING WELL A GREATLY REDUCED POPULATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD DO THAT NICELY AND WHAT A BETTER LESS CROWDED COUNTRY IT WOULD BE WITH EVERYONE BUT THE RICHEST IN OUR SOCIETY WOULD NO DOUBT AGREE?
WE HAVE :
MULTI-CULTURALISM MULTI-DIVERSITY MULTI -WARS MULTI-CRIME MULTI-IMMIGRATION MULTI-INFECTIONS MULTI-SPEED CAMERAS MULTI-LEGISLATION MULTI-NO GO AREAS MULTI- CLOSURE OF POST OFFICES MULTI - CLOSURE OF HOSPITALS MULTI- CLOSURE OF POLICE STATIONS MULTI -GRIEVANCES AGAINST LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
WE WERE RIGHT THIS PRESENT PARLIAMENT IS INDEED A MAD PARLIAMENT.
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IF YOU CAN SAY
'WE WANT OUT-WITHOUT A DOUBT' THEN [Only an ultimatum by millions of subjects that the new EU TREATY can never be accepted such as signing the RENUNCIATION of EU CITIZENSHIP http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Optout Details from petition creator With the signing of the Maastricht Treaty the people of Britain were given DUAL CITIZENSHIP -both EUROPEAN and BRITISH The extra tier of citizenship was thrust upon the people without their consent -and in many cases knowledge. The PEOPLE of GREAT BRITAIN should be allowed the option of opting out of the EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP if they so wish. The GOVERNMENT will then be able to provide those who have opted out with BRITISH DOCUMENTATION -only such as British (not EU) passports, driving licences and other national documents. EU laws will also NOT APPLY to those who HAVE OPTED OUT OF EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP * 67% want powers back from EU-ICM poll-June 21-2007-95% of British people want a REFERENDUM * FOR A REFERENDUM SIGN TODAY ON LINE * July 18-2007
THE QUESTION THAT THE VOTER MUST ANSWER
‘DO YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, LAW AND CUSTOM OR BY THE CORRUPT ,EXPENSIVE UNACCOUNTABLE AND CORRUPT ALIEN BUSYBODY BRUSSELS’
-SIMPLE IS IT NOT?
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BEN'S BATTLE: HOW YOU CAN HELP Severely injured in Afghanistan Ben Parkinson is offered the usual pittance from the MoD. With twelve injuries from loss of both legs above the knee to many fractures he is only entitled to receive compensation for three. £115,000 plus additional payments of £34,500 and £1650. which for someone so badly injured and needing special care for the rest of his life is a derisory payment when compared to a payout to an RAF typist of £484,000 for an injured thumb. The Daily Mail has asked its readers wishing to help Ben Parkinson's LEGAL BATTLE can make cheques payable to: Protect Our Protectors Fighting Fund and post to: PPFF, PO Box 95 Aldershot, Hants, GU11 9GL ANY SURPLUS FUNDS raised will be split equally between THE BRITISH LEGION -THE BRITISH LIMBLESS ASSOCIATION -THE SOLDIERS, AIRMAN and FAMILIES ASSOCIATION and the ROYAL HOSPITAL for NEURODISABILITY in PUTNEY -where Ben was treated for months.
IT IS TIME MORE REALISTIC PAYMENTS WERE GIVEN TO OUR BRAVE FIGHTING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN In the meantime THEY DESPERATELY NEED YOUR SUPPORT
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* [Latest Addition - June07] * * *
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Daniel Hannan - Forming an OPPOSITION to the EU
* GORDON BROWN WANTS TRUST-BUT WHY WON'T HE TRUST YOU? * 67% want powers back from EU-ICM poll-June 21-2007-95% of British people want a REFERENDUM * FOR A REFERENDUM SIGN TODAY ON LINE * July 18-2007 ALSO JOIN THE 10 DOWNING STREET PROTEST Readers can add their support to the growing clamour for a REFERENDUM on the '"REFORM TREATY" by signing up to a 10 Downing Street 0n-line petition http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EU-treaty-NON/
The Petition reads as follows: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to guarantee that the British people will be permitted a binding REFERENDUM on any and all attempts to resurrect the EU " CONSTITUTION" (and any or all of its content) regardless of nomenclature." Deadline for the PETITION is 31st January,2008 Eurofacts 27th July 2007. * 'The Spirit of England' by In London on St.George's Day -1953 *
VOTE -2007
WITH THE ONLY PARTY WITH A MANDATE TO SET YOU FREE
THE UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY THE QUESTION THAT THE VOTER MUST ANSWER
‘DO YOU WISH TO BE GOVERNED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, LAW AND CUSTOM OR BY THE CORRUPT ,EXPENSIVE UNACCOUNTABLE AND CORRUPT ALIEN BUSYBODY BRUSSELS’
-SIMPLE IS IT NOT?
TO RECLAIM YOUR DEMOCRACY DON'T VOTE FOR THE TRIPARTITE PARTIES IN WESTMINSTER BUT SMALL PARTIES THAT SPEAK THEIR MINDS WITHOUT SPIN AND LIES. *
ONLY WILL BRING DEMOCRACY BACK TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE *
SCOTLAND -ITS PARLIAMENT -WALES-ITS ASSEMBLY-ENGLAND-STILL AWAITS ITS PARLIAMENT-WHY?
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* [All underlined words have a separate bulletin]
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