Today’s defence news includes coverage of yesterday’s announcement that veterans with an asbestos-related cancer will now be able to claim lump sum compensation following their campaign for fair treatment.
ASBESTOS COMPENSATION
The Independent reports that ‘scores’ of veterans dying from an asbestos-related cancer caused by their time in the military are to receive a lump sum in compensation, following a campaign by the paper to overturn rules that left them ‘worse off than civilians’. The article says that Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, Mark Lancaster, announced the move, saying that around 60 veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos during their time in service will benefit. An editorial in the paper welcomes the news, saying it is the right amount of compensation for cancer sufferers.
Mr Lancaster said yesterday:
It is right that we do more to support veterans affected by this condition – it’s part of our commitment to our Armed Forces. This change will give them more choice and control.
WARSHIPS
The Daily Mirror reports that the Royal Navy’s ‘new breed of lighter, faster warships’ could be built with foreign steel after Minister for Reserves, Julian Brazier, said during yesterday’s Defence Questions that the Government has no plans to prioritise UK producers in building the Type 31 frigate.
A Government statement on the procurement of British steel is below:
No-one should be in any doubt that – across all of Government’s major procurements – we are working hard to make sure that wherever possible, British steel suppliers have a fighting chance of competing for and winning contracts.
UK suppliers have provided significant quantities of steel for major defence equipment procurement programmes and new government guidelines will help UK steel suppliers to compete effectively with international suppliers for major projects, including those in defence.
TUNISIA
The Sun and Daily Mail report the announcement made by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon yesterday that British soldiers have been sent to Tunisia to help stem the flow of Daesh fighters crossing the border from Libya. The papers say that a team of around 20 has been deployed to provide patrolling and surveillance training.
The Defence Secretary said yesterday:
With Daesh terrorists determined to target innocent civilians wherever they can, this training will help Tunisian forces to increase their border security. It underlines our commitment to peace and security in the region.
UK personnel are training commanders in the 1st Tunisian Brigade, and the current deployment follows on from a previous tranche of border security training with the 1st Tunisian Brigade Headquarters at the end of last year.
CUTS
An article in The Daily Express suggests Foreign Office military experts have claimed that Britain is ‘flying blind’ in international crises after cuts to the department.
The MOD’s response to this news report is below:
The Government is committed to the defence and security of our country. We are increasing defence spending in real terms every year, meeting the NATO 2% target and spending £178 billion on equipment and support.
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