The Ministry of Defence has launched the next phase of its review into the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and members of the public can now post their views on how the AFCS should compensate for injury, illness or death caused by service through an online mailbox or by email
Comments can be left through the MOD website or emailed to AFCS-Review@mod.uk The website and mailbox will remain open until 19 November 2009.
The views will be taken into account during a widespread and thorough review into the scheme, which is being chaired by former Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral the Lord Boyce.
Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth announced in July that he was bringing forward a review into the AFCS and Lord Boyce was chosen as the independent chair of the MOD review in September.
Lord Boyce will also chair an independent scrutiny group which will support the review. The group, which met for the first time last week, includes representatives from service and ex-service organisations, a service families’ representative, a widows associations’ representative, a beneficiary of the AFCS and medical and legal experts. More details on the group and the review, including its terms of reference, are available at www.mod.uk
Admiral the Lord Boyce said: I welcome this public engagement as a key part of the review into the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. It is important that the review seeks views from all parties. Engaging widely is a right and proper step, and it will enable me to make the best recommendations to the Defence Secretary about the future of the scheme.”
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: I am committed to ensuring that the review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme that I have brought forward is thorough and wide-ranging. I believe that public engagement is key to achieving this. While improvements have been made, I am determined to continue to do all I can to ensure that our brave service personnel have full confidence in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.”