MULHOLLAND SUPPORTS VETERANS CAMPAIGN
September 1, 2005 12:00 AM
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, has given his backing in Parliament to RNID's campaign urging the Government to address problems facing thousands of deafened veterans by lowering the level of hearing loss needed to qualify for compensation. Currently, veterans can suffer hearing loss to levels equivalent to someone in their 90's without receiving compensation.
Presently, the majority of claimants are not qualifying for any assistance at all and around 90% of veterans who have applied for compensation for deafness in the last five years have been refused.
Commenting, Greg said:
"RNID's campaign is extremely important and affects many veterans, not only from the Second World War but also from more recent conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq."
"Many servicemen and women will experience hearing loss because of their time in the armed forces and I urge everyone in Leeds North West to support RNID's campaign by signing their petition. Your support in signing the petition will put pressure on the Government to initiate changes so that the qualifying level is lowered and veterans are compensated appropriately."
Chris Underwood, Head of Campaigns at RNID, says:
"RNID has undertaken extensive consultation with the UK's leading scientists specialising in hearing loss, and research with over 1,500 veterans, to discover the true extent of the flaws in the current compensation criteria and the effects these have on the lives of thousands of veterans.
"The results show the need for substantial reform and the fact that the Government's understanding of hearing loss, and the effects it has on a person's life, is outdated and unsuitable.
"It's time to recognise the sacrifices that deafened veterans have made for their country."
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