Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of using Veterans UK medical advisors rather than independent medical experts in the veterans compensation process.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) delivers for those who make a claim. Mechanisms of accountability ensure that this is the case and include the Quinquennial Review to confirm AFCS remains fit for purpose, monthly review against Key Performance Indicators, and bi-monthly review in conjunction with the Office of Veterans Affairs. The Central Advisory Committee on Compensation also affords Armed Forces charities opportunity to discuss all aspects of compensation, including the efficiency of AFCS.

The AFCS uses independent medical experts through the Independent Medical Expert Group, an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. This provides assurance that AFCS policy and decision-making reflect contemporary medical understanding of causation and prognosis. Any apparent anomalies in AFCS tariffs are examined and recommendations made accordingly. Veterans UK medical advisers are independent from clinicians and have had a career in clinical medicine. They are trained in medico-legal determinations and AFCS legislation. They give case-specific advice based on the claimant’s service and in-line with prevailing medical understanding.