Chief defends crippled war hero's payout

Sir Jock Stirrup, chief of defence staff, insisted Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, from Wheatley Hills, will receive an annual payment on top of his new 285,000 lump sum.

The Air Chief Marshal was forced to comment after Ben’s mother Diane Dernie dismissed changes to the government’s compensation scheme and said the Ministry of Defence was treating troops as “simply figures on a balance sheet”.

Ben was originally given a paltry 152,150 after he lost both his legs and suffered 37 other injuries when his Land Rover was blown up. He was only allowed to claim compensation for his three most serious injuries.

On Thursday, the MoD re-drew its scheme, allowing Ben to claim for all his injuries. But it refused to bow to pressure and increase the 285,000 compensation limit.

Mrs Dernie said the revised figure was still not enough to cater for her son’s ongoing needs and that the Government was treating soldiers as a commodity.

Sir Jock yesterday stressed that Ben will still get his MoD war pension, which is likely to be worth around 20,000 a year.

He said: “The amount that he has got that has been discussed in the media is the lump sum payment up front. It is not the totality of the financial support that he will get for the rest of his life.

“People like Ben get a guaranteed income payment that is tax free, index linked, for the rest of his life.”

He that Ben will also “get all the medical care and social support that he needs as well.”

Acknowledging that the previous system had been unfair, Sir Jock said: “I’m very pleased that the scheme has been reviewed and amended so that Ben Parkinson gets the maximum amount allowable under the scheme in terms of the capital payment.

“It wasn’t right before that he got less than the maximum number.”