Mayor slams the cash aid for Ben

He blasted the compensation given to Doncaster soldier Ben Parkinson - who was wounded in the Helmand Province of Afgh-anistan when a Taliban landmine exploded - as “a bit of an insult”.

Ben, of Thorne Road, Wheatley Hills, was awarded 152,150 for injuries which caused the amputation of both legs and left him unable to remember anything from the past three years.

He also suffered a series of other injuries including a blast injury to his brain, fractures to his skull, cheekbone, nose, jaw and pelvis, crushed vertebrae and damage to his spleen and chest.

The sum awarded is around half the maximum amount of 285,000 allowed by the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Winter expressed concern at the way Ben had been dealt with by the MoD.

He told Doncaster Coun-cil: “I don’t always agree with my own government’s policy and I think the settlement Mr Parkinson has been offered is a bit of an insult.”

Mr Winter was replying to a question by independent councillor Jessie Credland, who questioned the wisdom of treating soldiers in civilian hospitals instead of dedicated forces units.

Coun Credland said receiving care away from their comrades led to soldiers suffering depression, and asked if something could be done locally to provide facilities for The Rifles Regiment, recently adopted by Doncaster, who have also served in Afghanistan, to receive care in a dedicated unit in Doncaster if necessary.

Mr Winter said he agreed with the idea that military casualties should be treated together.

He added: “We should be looking to accommodate all military casualties’ needs in the best way possible in the future.

“They should be together in a dedicated military hospital or unit.

“I’m delighted by Coun Credland’s suggestions and will write a letter to the Government in support of her ideas.”