More action on claims, MoD told

Personal injury solicitors this week welcomed recommendations from the National Audit Office (NAO) that the Ministry of Defence should take a more proactive approach to dealing with compensation claims, including making more apologies and giving more explanations.

The NAO report on compensation claims said the ministry paid out almost 100 million in 2001-2002, compared to 32.5 million in 1992-1993.

In 2001-2002, some 15 million - 18.5% of the total compensation - went on legal costs.

The report recommended that the ministry streamline the claims process by making higher initial offers where appropriate, seeking early medical advice and agreeing timescales for the provision of documents with claimant solicitors.

It cited the finding that just 14% of claimants said they had received an apology, with a third receiving an admission of liability.

It also recommended that accident-prevention procedures should be reviewed.

David Marshall, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, said payments had gone up owing to factors such as changes to the discount rate.

'It's good news that the NAO identifies accident prevention as the best way to reduce costs and that it addresses the fact that people don't just want financial compensation,' he added.

'Sometimes an apology or an explanation is more important.'

A ministry spokeswoman said the report recognised that it was performing well compared to other organisations of a comparable size.

She said further accident-prevention policies were in place in all departments, but explained that 'some of them will take a while to filter down'.

Paula Rohan