Lack of money isn't the reason. The government is preparing to spend up to £25Bn extra, subsidising our competitors in the EU.

The government hasn't been prepared to invest in decent armour to protect Our Boys, but has allowed the purchase of armour-plated speed cameras. Brown & Hoon & co ought to be charged with corporate manslaughter!

Mr Angry Taxpayer, London, UK

With a world shortage of pain relieving medicines, especially opiate based ones, eg morphine, diamorphine, codeine etc, would it not make better sense instead of trying to eradicate the poppy fields which produce the opium rather to reach an agreement with the farmers to buy all the opium they can produce and use it legitimately in prescription medicines. Then we would have the local population on our side, we could reduce the flow of illegal heroin into the west and our troops would be seen as protectors of the afghan people rather than occupiers. It's a win/win situation. We receive medical supplies that will always be useful, cut off one of the major sources of income to the taliban and defuse a situation in Afghanistan that is threatening to spiral out of control.

Marcus Shaw, Cumbria, UK

I go to Iraq for the second time in under 2 weeks. I've also served in Afhghan, Bosnia and NI several times, Sierra Leonne and god knows where else.

I've got a wife and 2 young kids and have had 15 units of PAX for years (like I have a choice). 30% up, thanks! I guess you have been reading the press, reduced cost of council tax, reduced income tax, the help for heroes campaign etc.

Any SUN or who ever Journo reading this put them on the front page money grabbing gits!

Tony

tonyk, Bielefeld,

Sir,

Prior to joining the Royal Marines I served for five years in the French Foreign Legion Parachute Regiment. My annual life insurance policy cost me £80, why, because the policy was underwritten by the French Governement. It covered me for parachuting, off-piste skiing, mountaineering and re-breather diving to name just a few activities. Every year I spent at least six months on operations but I knew if the worst was to happen I would be cared for, both financially and medically.
We may have a tradition of knocking the French but at least their governement has the courage to stand by their troops.

Mark Winfield, Plymouth, Devon

I can beleive every word that PAX are putting up insurance.In august last year i had a brain haemorage and my husband was in Iraq and had to been brought home as the doctors where not sure if i would make it.I did but have been left with brain damage and no feeling to my left side of my body and unable to work.So at the time of deployment my husband took out family insurance with Pax and so did many others that where deployed at the same time.He and fellow soildiers where not given any time to read the small print just asked to sign and they would do the rest,which my husband did as to cover us if anything happened to him.So my husband placed a claim with PAX and after alot of letter writing we was turned down due to the fact i never disclosed i had breast cancer 6 years before but have been clear since and the condition is not connected at all.Also surprise to say they have now changed the way they give out PAX now,but that does not help the likes of previous claiments.

christine jeffreys, hartlepool, cleveland

Hang your heads in shame MoD. Is it not time the whole contract between members of the armed forces and the British Government was overhauled. Far more thought needs to be addressed to compensation, after care, pensions etc.
As a long service member of the armed forces I believe we were got cheap and in retrospect I would not give 20 plus years of my life to an organisation that if was in the commercial sector would spend most of its time attending industrial tribunals.

K. Morton, Fareham,Hants, UK

2007-11-04

Two words come to mind: "incredible" and "despicable".

May I make a personal comparison: I am on 80 percent disability pension after 5 and a half years war service, and I am darn sure I -- and guys around me -- never any request to pay extra for personal insurance


Peter U D, France

Peter U D, F-78110, France

It just demonstrates the contempt in which our supreme leader regards British troops.

Doug, Glasgow,

This just defies belief.

MPs are allowed to swan about on full expenses of GBP100,000+, have second homes bought for them by the taxpayer yet they are unable to adequately compensate our Service personnel who lay their life on the line.

Disgusting.

Ian Rapley, Muscat, Oman

Not too much has changed since Wellington's time.

Average equipment, poor supply, rubbish housing.

Lions led by Jellyfish

Bill Bird, Wallasey, Wirral

Unbelievable ! I find it amazing that a government relies on a private company AIG to pay compensation to troops carrying out its own war mongering. Perhaps the next step for this sick Labour bunch should be to disband the armed forces and just employ mercenaries as and when they're needed. You cant blame AIG as they're a private insurance company that assesses its business to make a profit and if rates have to go up, so be it. But, you can't expect the troops to foot the bill when they have no ability to affect their risk levels and consequently their premiums. Next we'll see different premiums for different roles in the armed forces if the free market forces are fully implemented.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Do Gordon and his Government get an insurance introductory commission?

Why oh Why are we letting them do this to our Country and it's people?

Jim, Hythe, Kent

The following statement is WRONG WRONG WRONG.

"Brigadier J H Gordon, the army’s director of personal services, wrote: “It is a command responsibility to ensure that our officers and soldiers are made aware of the need to provide adequately for their dependants."

It is the responsibility of the MoD to insure the men in UK Forces.

But then, when did the MoD ever take any responsibility for anything?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

John Feltham, Townsville, Australia

Just another example of the contempt with which this government treats our armed forces.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

How much do we spend each year on TV advertising trying to encourage our young into military service?

Why don't we get rid of this expense, and spend far more on ensuring that these people have 100% assurance that they will always be recognised, rewarded, and looked after for doing a job which frankly very few (including me) are prepared to do.

There are many instances where the importance of a persons job bears little relation to the remuneration and benefits they receive through doing it - people who care for our elderley, those in the emergency services, and healthcare professionals. Surely those that safeguard our way of life, and are prepared to go to foreign countries (in sometimes questionable circumstances) to maintain this are among this rare breed.

We should make these jobs so gilt-edged that people would be falling over themselves to be doing them - rather than falling over themselves to work in the media and become a z-list celebrity.

peabop, Manchester, UK

I am disgusted that our troops have to pay insurance when sent on active duty.Most of our troops are very young and if seriously injured, as one 21 year old I know of, have to live many years with their disabilities and the trauma that goes with being blown up and often seeing their comrades killed..No wonder there is a large shortfall in the number of troops we have.Less signing up and more signing out after 4 years.Our troops on active service work tedious long and dangerous hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.Our country should look after our injured troops and give them fair compensation.

Valerie, Devon, uk

What a country we've become. You wouldn't believe this stuff in a dramatisation.

Our establishment is out of touch and contemptible. If I were in the British forces I wouldn't be buying insurance - I'd be buying myself out.

Oh - I hope the typist is making a full recovery though. God knows what the RAF would do without typists.

j griffiths, manchester, england

I find it extraordinary that AIG are being used to provide cover for our soldiers being deployed to high risk areas. Surely this cover should be provided by the Government as a matter of course. I am sure that we can all think of ways in which the fund could be supported financially, cutting MP expenses is one example, perhaps bringing the MP pension fund scheme in line with those who they represent could be another.

We could also look to providing them with the equipment they need to complete their tasks which for so long as been held back.

In the 21st century it is shocking that the British Government should be adopting a first world war attitude to those who are the frontline of defending this nation.

John Hughes, Barnet, UK

Send the revised quotes en-masse to Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell with menacing demands to cough up for the results of their lies and deceipt. Monthly installments will do nicely.

Maude Heath, Chippenham,

Disgusting, and no suprise from this stupid and inept Government, who sent you based on lies and BS, British troops to a war that is today totally bogged down.
Sorry but the British Government is currently too busy spending money on keeping criminals happy in jail that should have been deported from Britain long ago.Supporting failed asylum seekers etc etc.
Dont worry boys and girls who wear the uniform of the British Forces your Government is right behind you. NOT.

peter andrew, Montreal, Canada