London victims compensation row

[IBM]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4741579.stm

Now, am I being insensitve, or does people (Victims groups) complaining about the level of compensation that victims of the London bombing are receiving as an gesture of sympathy from the Government (who only the most litigious solicitor would consider to be responsible for the attacks - that particular debate would deserve another thread entirely) as being yet another example of the 'hand-out culture' which has developed in the UK.

The charity appeal raised £6.5 million, and in addition to the insurance policies held by people involved in the attacks (although I'm sure numbers of them weren't covered) I'm certain that the bereaved are feeling the generosity of the British people.

The Home Office has claimed that the compensation scheme is one of the most generous in the world, which I'm sure it is. I doubt that people involved in the Indonesian bombings, or those in Iraq or Afghanistan get much from their respective governments. Okay, in a perfect world it would be great if every death resulted in a windfall from the government promising to take care of you for the rest of time, but this isn't a perfect world, and complaining about an unexpected level of financial support from the government strikes me a being plain wrong.

What about anyone else?

[nichomach]

You're not alone; have a shufti at http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=50874. Frankly, the VCT spokesberk is talking through her rectal orifice, but THAT strikes me as typical...

[Skii]

Does this mean the entire population of the UK can sue for damages and loss of loved ones from World War 2 ?

[nichomach]

Errrr...no. I rather think that would fall foul of the time limits for actions for PI torts .

[IBM]

Sorry, repost...my bad.

[Mike Fishcake]

I have mixed feelings over this. I feel sick any time someone is pacified over the death of a loved one by a huge fat wad of cash, but it is obviously needed to cover costs of loss of earnings and so on (life assurance?).

Not necessarily in this circumstance, but certainly in some events, a compensation payout can appear like someone has won a grand prize because their wife was killed, as if the smell of money fixes all that.

[herulach]

Theres no reason why they should get more than anyone else, these are the statuatory payouts that anyone gets, they arent sueing anyone, its called criminal injury compensation or somesuch. Its on top of life insurance, and as far as the victims groups goes, then id like to see them ask exactly how much someones life is worth.

[oralpain]

It could be argued that the government was not doing it's job to protect it's citizens, but I think thats still a rather far out claim, in the UKs case (as the threat was internal, not external).