Markyate Monthly Article, July 2008

Parliamentary Diary
Injured Soldiers

Every Thursday we have Business Questions. This is where the Leader of the House sets out Parliament’s business for the forthcoming week. MPs can use this time to ask for debates on subjects which they feel are particularly important. This week I called for a debate on compensation arrangements for British soldiers injured in action.

The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting a review into compensation for the military, but as yet we haven’t had the opportunity to debate this in the Commons.

We constantly read about paltry compensation packages offered to our brave servicemen and women who have suffered enormously as a result of injuries sustained in Iraq or Afghanistan. These young men and women have risked their lives in very dangerous and difficult circumstances, fighting on our behalf. It is outrageous that compensation packages offered by the Government to the military compare so unfavourably with compensation awarded to people injured in civilian life.

Our forces do an excellent job and deserve the best. Quite simply, I don’t think they are getting that at the moment.

Herts Air Ambulance

I am greatly honoured to have been asked to be a trustee of the newly established Herts and Essex Air Ambulance Trust. It seems incredible that we have been one of the only two counties not to be covered by an air ambulance service. The new Trust builds on the experience of the Essex Air Ambulance and I congratulate them for their commitment and hard work to raise sufficient funds to be able to start an air ambulance in Hertfordshire.

With A&Es at Hemel and QE2 in Welwyn set to close this service will undoubtedly be a real life-saver and it is clear that it can play a very important role.

Air ambulances are run by charities and I have joined Welwyn MP, Grant Shapps, and Air Operations Manager of the Essex Air Ambulance Trust, Clifford Gale, to meet with the Chief Executives of both the Herts Primary Care Trusts and the Chairman of the joint PCT to try to iron out some outstanding issues and to get the Herts Air Ambulance operational as soon as possible.

It is surprising how complicated it is to slot an air ambulance into the existing 999 structure.

The Air Ambulance is totally reliant on voluntary donations as there is no Government or Lottery funding.

If you want to find out more, you can visit their website at http://www.hertsairambulance.org.uk/