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WOUNDED war heroes are to keep their disability benefits

WOUNDED war heroes are to keep their disability benefits for life after the PM stepped in to halt a bid to cut them.

Worried veterans — including soldiers who lost limbs in battle — had been facing humiliating re-tests that could have seen them stripped of crucial cash.

But David Cameron has now slapped down MoD bureaucrats and ruled that anyone left disabled by military service must be exempt from benefit cuts.

They will also be exempt from a new scheme to re-examine all claimants aged 16 to 64.

The PM intervened to help Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who has been fighting civil servants over the issue since December.

Mr Cameron said: “I made a promise to our forces that they will get special treatment, and I intend to stick to it.”

The Government plans to replace Disability Living Allowance with a new benefit called the Personal Independence Payment for all working age people with serious difficulties.

Incredibly, MoD bureaucrats were insisting that wounded heroes get the same grilling as suspected cheats and scroungers — because they feared their cash-strapped department would be left to pick up the bill for administering the payouts.

Mr Duncan Smith is now drawing up plans for wounded personnel to get their own tailor-made support package when they leave the forces.

The Royal British Legion welcomed the move, saying: “We applaud the PM and Iain Duncan Smith for standing up for our wounded heroes.”

thesun.co.uk

17/05/2012 11:11:09

The Shameful treatment of our military by the public

THE shocking abuse and discrimination that forces’ heroes suffer on Britain’s streets is revealed by The Sun today.

In the biggest ever independent survey of the UK military, 21 per cent said that while wearing their uniform in public they had INSULTS shouted at them by strangers.

And 18 per cent had been REFUSED service in places such as pubs or hotels in the past five years. Others had been SPAT at and more than one in 20 had faced VIOLENCE.

A female RAF officer said: “I have people running up and screaming ‘baby killer’ at me.”

The shameful findings come after Our Boys and Girls have spent more than ten years fighting on our behalf in Iraq and Afghanistan — with close to 600 troops dying and almost 10,000 being injured.

They are included in a poll of more than 9,000 serving military personnel organised by Tory peer and businessman Lord Ashcroft.

He also quizzed more than 4,000 members of the public in Britain and the United States. Lord Ashcroft found a third of US citizens had gone up and thanked servicemen and women compared to just eight per cent here.

Just 14 per cent of those questioned in the States said they chose to snub the military. But in Britain 34 per cent said they would not show their appreciation because they “don’t think it is necessary or appropriate to do so”.

Last night Defence Secretary Philip Hammond promised action.

He said: “We have worked hard to ensure our Armed Forces, veterans and their families have the support they need and are treated with the dignity they deserve.

“We have made great progress over the last year with practical improvements to service life. This helpful report shows there is still more we can do and I want to thank Lord Ashcroft.”

The report, The Military in Britain — through the eyes of Service personnel, employers and the public, is published today.

It does include better news — 56 per cent said strangers had thanked them, 29 per cent said they had been bought drinks and 26 per cent had been offered discounts in shops or by a business.

Army personnel were most likely to receive thanks but, along with Royal Marines, were most likely to be refused service.

Forces-supporting Lord Ashcroft backed the survey with focus groups of members of all three services, as well as military veterans.

An RAF woman told researchers: “Working in Leicester as a recruiter I make a point of walking to and from work in my uniform. I have people running up and screaming ‘baby killer’ at me. I’ve had people spit at me.

“Equally, last week this great huge bloke — shaved head, beard, earrings, tattoos — stood up and gave me a round of applause, saying, ‘Well done love, I’m very proud’.”

And a Royal Marine said: “There is a minority of small-minded people who see the uniform, see the flashes, and think, ‘They’re superhuman, I’m going to have a go at them’ They feel better about themselves if they can beat up a Marine.”

Others said public attitudes had changed significantly for the better — aided by national campaigns to raise awareness of the Forces’ plight, such as The Sun-backed Help for Heroes charity.

A soldier said: “There’s a totally different reaction from the public now. People will stop and talk to you and thank you in the street, some look at your medals and ask what they’re for.”

read the Poll in its entiretyt

14/05/2012 16:44:23

Falklands tension: Argentina marks Belgrano anniversary

Falklands tension: Argentina marks Belgrano anniversary

Argentina has held ceremonies to mark the 30th anniversary of the sinking of the warship General Belgrano during the Falklands War with the UK.

Survivors and relatives of the 323 crew who died gathered in Buenos Aires to mourn their loss.

President Cristina Fernandez reiterated Argentina’s claim to the Falklands, which it calls Las Malvinas.

The Belgrano - a cruiser - was torpedoed by the British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror on 2 May 1982.

Its sinking remains one of the most controversial actions of the Falklands conflict.
’Open wound’

"On days like these, we remember that there is a mission that is not over," Belgrano survivor Admiral Jorge Castro said at the ceremony.

"There are 323 voices calling to us that there is an open wound. Every day they they remind us that the Malvinas are, were and will be Argentine."

President Fernandez used the occasion to repeat her demand for negotiations on sovereignty over the Falklands.

She gave her backing to Argentina’s ambassador in London, Alicia Castro, who on Monday asked UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to "give peace a chance" by opening dialogue.

The UK government says it will not discuss the issue without the agreement of the Falkland islanders.

Last month both nations marked the 30th anniversary of the start of the Falklands conflict, when Argentine forces invaded the British overseas territory.

A total of 255 British servicemen and about 650 Argentines died after the UK sent a task force to regain control.

The General Belgrano was sunk on the orders of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who said it had posed a danger to British ships.

However, the warship was outside the 200-mile maritime exclusion zone Britain had declared around the Falklands and was said to be sailing away from the islands when she was hit. Critics said the action was excessive and scuppered any chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Argentine and Chilean ships rescued 770 survivors from the sunken vessel.

03/05/2012 11:18:28

Woolwich Barracks prepares for London 2012

Woolwich Barracks is being vigorously tested as a London 2012 Olympic venue this week as it hosts the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup.

The controversial temporary pod-like ranges built within the historic home of the Royal Artillery will be the site for the first medals of the Olympics.

The International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup competition, part of the official Olympic sports testing programme, the London Prepares Series, is therefore a vital test event for the Games, and for the military personnel involved in organising the event.

Shooting Competition Manager for the London Olympics, Major Peter Underhill, said:

"There are nearly 850 competitors from 97 countries here at this competition, which is more than double the number who will be taking part in the Olympics. So if we can manage this, we know we can do anything.

"This is an actual world cup competition taking place, but it is also a test event for the Olympics in this venue.

"For the Olympians, most of whom are taking part in this competition, it is important that they get used to the field of play here and the dynamics within the venue. While for the organising staff this kind of robust test is vital."

Major Underhill, from The Rifles, has been involved in organising the shooting ranges and events for the last seven years in the run-up to the Games. He is one of just four serving Army personnel involved in the process:

"It is a huge event, and there are a lot of challenges to make sure it meets all the technical specifications and standards," he explains. "As an Army officer it is an honour to have this event within such an iconic Army venue.

"When you see the façade of the Royal Artillery barracks, which dates back to the 18th century, you can see all this history and tradition alongside a modern Olympic sport. The site combines these two vital elements, and for the Army to be a part of that is an honour."

The Woolwich Barracks venue will be home to 390 Olympians during the Games, competing in 15 shooting events.

02/05/2012 11:29:40

RAF war veterans forced to hand over up to £12,000 in salary blunder

RAF war veterans forced to hand over up to £12,000 in salary blunder stretching back 15 years

Courageous RAF personnel who have served in Afghanistan are among scores of servicemen who will be made to pay back thousands after a wages blunder stretching back years.

According to The Sun more than 100 ground staff have been told they have been incorrectly paid too much for at least the last 15 years.

The longest-serving RAF staff to be affected will have to hand over up to £12,000 back to the Ministry of Defence, according to sources.

Members of RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire’s Tactical Communications Wing have been informed, many are currently on a tour of duty in Afghanistan or have previously served in the middle east country.

The wages error occurred from the processing of small pay increments awarded when staff obtained technical qualifications like NVQs.

It is believed that staff have been paid too much for the level of qualification they attained.

The mistake was highlighted when an accountant found a single error. This was followed up by an investigation which revealed the problem was widespread.

At present it is unclear whether it was human error or the fault of a computer, but a source said the revelation had left staff extremely angry.

He said: ’It’s a real kick in the teeth and a disgusting way to treat people serving their country.’

The RAF has confirmed that a forced pay-back scheme is in operation but a spokesman said that procedures were in place to ensure that individuals concerned would not suffer hardship.

30/04/2012 15:25:03