Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 30 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 July 2004. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give compensation to service personnel who say that they volunteered to take part in experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down when they believed that they were taking part in research to find a cure for the common cold; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give compensation to service personnel who say that they volunteered to take part in experiments at the Chemical Defence Establishment at Porton Down when they believed that they were taking part in research to find a cure for the common cold; and if he will make a statement. [182252] Mr. Caplin: Service personnel who suffered loss or injury as a result of negligence by the Ministry of Defence prior to May 1987 are prevented from pursuing claims for compensation from the Ministry of Defence by Section 10 of The Crown Proceedings Act 1947. Therefore any claims received from Porton Down veterans would be considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation. Compensation in the form of a War Pension is however, available to all former members of HM armed forces suffering from Service attributable to illness or injury. War Pensions are non-discretionary, not means tested and are made on a no-fault, tax free and retrospective basis.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 182252; 423 c722W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Compensation War pensions Chemical Defence Establishment Human experiments
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk