Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with armed forces charities on the payment of lump sum compensation payments to veterans with mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Government has continuously made compensation available under the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) for injuries, illness or disease caused by service before 6 April 2005, including mesothelioma. The scheme provides veterans who have mesothelioma with the maximum income stream and additional supplementary allowances, and, where appropriate, entitlement to dependent's benefits.
During the last Central Advisory Committee on Compensation (CAC) Meeting on 17 June ex-Service organisations were updated on our consideration of whether any flexibility could be provided for future mesothelioma claimants under the WPS. Detailed consideration has continued, including discussion with other Government Departments, and we expect to update the charities at the forthcoming CAC Meeting in December.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department does not plan to give evidence at the planning inquiry in respect of wind turbines and precision approach radar at French Farm, French Drove, Thorney near Peterborough in March 2015.
Answered by Anna Soubry
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) previously objected to the French Farm Extension proposal because the development would cause unacceptable interference to the Precision Approach Radar at RAF Wittering.
The applicant submitted a technical proposal to mitigate the unacceptable affects of the proposed development on the ATC radars at RAF Coningsby, RAF Waddington and RAF Wittering. The proposal was accepted by the MOD in 2014.
The MOD informed the Planning Inspectorate of its position on 30 January 2015 and the Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the MOD will not be requested to attend the Public Inquiry.