Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of compensation available to service personnel who develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos.

Service personnel who develop lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases are able to claim compensation under the War Pension Scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme which are subject to annual uplifts. The Department is currently reviewing the mesothelioma lump sum payment to ensure it remains fair and appropriate for those affected.