Veterans Vexatious Legal Claims 2020-11-02
2020-11-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The issue concerns the vulnerability of veterans to unjustified legal claims that may hinder their well-being and recovery.
What steps his Department is taking to protect veterans from vexatious legal claims. The concern arises due to instances where veterans face legal challenges that are perceived as unjust or without merit, impacting their mental and physical health post-service.
We have introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill to help tackle vexatious claims and end the cycle of re-investigations against our armed forces personnel and veterans. The majority of personal injury and clinical negligence claims by service personnel and veterans against the MOD do not relate directly to overseas operations so will be unaffected by the Bill.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about protecting veterans' rights to claim against the MOD was partially addressed but not fully clarified.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The concern is about ensuring that veterans retain their right to seek justice through legal means for issues arising from their service, without being hindered by reforms aimed at curbing vexatious claims.
I thank my hon. Friend for his response. Can he give me and the whole House assurances that veterans' rights to claim against the MOD will in turn remain protected? The question arises as there is a need to balance protective measures for service personnel with ensuring fair access to justice for legitimate claims.
Yes. The majority of personal injury and clinical negligence claims by service personnel and veterans against the MOD do not relate directly to overseas operations so will be unaffected by the Bill. Veterans will still be able to bring claims relating to overseas operations against the MOD within a reasonable timeframe.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about ensuring that all legitimate rights are protected was partially addressed but without full clarity on protections for all types of claims.
Response accuracy