Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when compensation payments to veterans with mesothelioma caused by service were commenced.

Mark Lancaster

The Government has continuously made compensation available under the War Pension Scheme for injuries, illness or disease caused by service before 6 April 2005, including mesothelioma.

The War Pension Scheme provides veterans with mesothelioma with the maximum award paid on a weekly/monthly basis and additional supplementary allowances and, where appropriate, entitlement to dependant’s benefits.

Following representations from ex-Service organisations and others, on 11 April 2016 a new legislative provision was introduced under the War Pension Scheme, this allowed individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma to opt for a lump sum payment of £140,000.

The first lump sum payments under the new provisions were made on 11 April 2016.