WIREDGOV

MOD announces Independent Chair of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme review

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 17 September 2009

A former Chief of the Defence Staff has been chosen as the Independent Chair of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) Review, the MoD announced today.

The Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth announced in July that he was bringing forward a review into the AFCS and today, the MoD is pleased to announce that the review will be led by Admiral The Lord Boyce GCB, OBE, DL.

As well as chairing the MoD’s review, he will also chair an Independent Scrutiny Group which will support the review. The group will comprise representatives of ex-service organisations, a service families’ representative, a beneficiary of the AFCS and medical and legal experts.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:

“I am extremely grateful to Lord Boyce for agreeing to lead the review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and I look forward to working with him. This review needs to be thorough and wide-ranging, and I hope the Royal British Legion and other Service Charities can play a role in achieving this. I am determined that the brave men and women injured on operations have confidence in the compensation scheme. And while we have made improvements, including doubling the lump sum for the most serious injuries, we can and we will do more.”

Speaking about his appointment, the Admiral The Lord Boyce said:

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to be involved in the AFCS review. As a former Chief of the Defence Staff, I am all too aware of the devastating injuries that our personnel can sustain while serving their country. I want to ensure that any scheme adequately meets the needs of those who have risked their lives for us.”

Royal British Legion Director General, Chris Simpkins said:

"The Legion has called on Government for an independent review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in its campaign to Honour the Covenant. We welcome the appointment of Admiral The Lord Boyce as independent chair and head of the independent scrutiny group. We are confident that the conditions are now in place where real improvements can be made to the treatment of our wounded heroes and, based on our vast experience, we look forward to representing their interests in our evidence to the review."

Anthony Stables, chair of The Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations (COBSEO) said:

“We very much welcome the appointment of Admiral The Lord Boyce to chair this important review. A distinguished former Chief of Defence Staff, he brings to the role a deep knowledge and understanding of the Armed Forces and the War Pensions and AFCS. COBSEO is also delighted that an independent scrutiny body will be put in place to peer review the work. We look forward to contributing to the review to ensure AFCS is a fair and just scheme of compensation, in which the whole service community has faith and confidence.”

Notes to Editors

For more information, contact Beth Cowley in the MoD Press Office on 0207 218 2661

Contacts:

Geri Mahoney Moore
Phone: 020 7218 7958
geri.mahoney-moore113@defence.gsi.gov.uk