The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect Lady Justice Hallett’s inquiry into the on the runs” administrative scheme to be published.”
Baroness Randerson
While Lady Justice Hallett is making good progress on her report, she has informed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that it will not be ready for publication until shortly after the 30 June deadline.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they use to determine when a member or former member of the armed forces is suffering from post-traumaticstress disorder and is entitled to financial compensation or a pension; and when those criteria were adopted.
Lord Astor of Hever
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for members and former members of the Armed Forces who suffer injury or illness as a result of service from 6 April 2005. Where a discrete mental health disorder is present, a separate award may be payable. The AFCS is tariff based and awards for mental health disorders and does not depend on precise diagnosis but effect on function.
The legislation requires that mental disorders are diagnosed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist at consultant Grade. Each claimed injury or illness (including mental illness) is investigated to determine if it was predominantly caused by service. If so, it will be matched against the descriptors and corresponding awards in the Tariff.
The AFCS was preceded by the War Pensions Scheme (WPS), which provides no fault compensation to former service personnel and their dependants for injuries and death as a result of service. All decisions are certified by a Medical Adviser and once entitlement has been established, the war pensioner’s degree of disablement due to service is assessed – normally as part of the medical certification process. The method of assessment is on an individual basis by comparison of the disabled person with a person of the same age and sex.
Members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) 05, with a recognised diagnosis, will be entitled to an ill-health pension or a tax-free pension lump sum or both, providing they have completed two years qualifying service. The ill-health categories are split into three ill-health award levels and these are allocated by reference to the same tariff levels that are used for the AFCS. Trained lay decision-makers consider each case and will decide on the level of the award as per AFCS.
The AFCS05 was preceded by the AFPS75 which included provision of an occupational entitlement to a Service Invaliding Pension (SIP) calculated on length of reckonable service and the substantive rank held at discharge. Members with at least two years qualifying service have an entitlement to an ill-health award.
If the condition occurred before 6 April 2005 and is considered under the WPS to have been caused by service in the Armed Forces, and the degree of disability assessed as 20% or more, an additional entitlement under the provisions of the Armed Forces Attributable Benefit Scheme (AFAB) will also be considered. AFAB provides a minimum level of income and provides a top-up to the SIP.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent progress has been made in establishing the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.
Baroness Randerson
We strongly support the discussions currently under way between the Northern Ireland parties and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland on securing the full operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland. Early resolution of this issue is essential to avoid gaps emerging in law enforcement in Northern Ireland in areas where there is serious public concern, such as drug enforcement, human trafficking and other forms of serious criminality.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government upon what terms they propose to hand over control of Hillsborough Castle to Historic Royal Palaces.
Baroness Randerson
On 1 April 2014, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) transferred responsibility for operating Hillsborough Castle to Historic Royal Palaces (HRP). This includes the upkeep, maintenance and presentation of the Castle to the public.
HRP will provide the NIO with a number of services, including the continued readiness of the Castle for use by the Royal Family, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Minister of State for Northern Ireland.