MoD ‘needs veterans’ ombudsman’
By Alex Stevenson
A Labour MP will call on the government to introduce a veteran’s ombudsman to deal with disputes between service personnel and the Ministry of Defence.
Marsha Singh is frustrated by the department’s treatment of a constituent, Charles Stuart, who he believes has been “mistreated” by the system.
“My feeling is the MoD seems to cover everything up at the expense of the feelings and rights of our servicemen and women, and ex-servicemen and women,” the Bradford West MP said.
“I will call for us to have a veteran’s ombudsman.”
Mr Stuart, a former RAF serviceman, was injured in November 1991 while working at RAF Belize when a falling heavy oil drum struck him. He was 30 at the time.
His superiors ignored his complaints about pain because of the accident and it was only after six months had passed that he made a formal complaint.
An MRI scan then revealed he had suffered a prolapsed disc of his cervical spine. An operation with a 30 per cent chance of solving the problem was unsuccessful.
After an 11-year court battle to win compensation was completed Mr Stuart is now seeking redress of why his injury was ignored, but the MoD is claiming the case has been closed.
“From the very beginning he’s obviously been messed about. He struggled to get compensation, when it’s quite clear he wasn’t afforded the medical attention his injury required,” Mr Singh added.
He believes under Queen’s Regulation 1001 Mr Stuart retains the right to refer the case to the Air Force Board, but former veterans’ ministers Don Tuohig and Derek Twigg have rejected this argument.
Later today Mr Singh will find out whether their predecessor, Kevan Jones, agrees.
“Not to hold anybody to account. is wrong. I think he’s entitled to justice,” he continued.
It follows Gordon Brown’s public intervention on behalf of a disabled soldier who lost his legs in Afghanistan in a planning dispute with the council where he lives.
On Sunday the prime minister called on Wealden council to overturn a rejected planning request to build a specially adapted home for the 20-year-old soldier, the BBC reported.
When asked about the case Mr Singh pointed to documents detailing Canada’s veteran’s ombudsman.
“Why shouldn’t the MoD be subject to scrutiny in the same way other departments are – in terms of parliamentary ombudsmen?” he asked.
Mr Singh’s adjournment debate will take place this evening.
