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As a 46 year old an Ex RAF Rigger currently living with Leukaemia (which i suspect may have possibly been triggered by exposure to dangerous materials during my service), this story, please excuse the pun, "makes my blood boil"!
THE family of an RAF man who died after contracting leukaemia while serving in the Gulf War are calling for changes to legislation which forced them to hand over more than £30,000 in taxes after his death.
Delyn MP David Hanson raised the case of Sgt Nigel Thomas (L tech AD), who served with the RAF from 1980 to 2004, in a House of Commons debate on Tuesday.
Sgt Thomas, whose parents, Mr and Mrs Davies, live in Mold, was exposed to radiation after an accident while he was serving in Cyprus during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
Nigel, who was awarded the Gulf Medal for his service during the war, was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia in 1992 and, after suffering from the illness for 18 years, died in 2010 aged 46.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hanson said funeral costs had been met by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency but when the family had applied for exemption of inheritance tax, which is usually granted to members of the forces who have died due to injuries or diseases contracted during active service, they were refused.
He said: “As a result of that decision, that letter meant the family were liable for an inheritance tax bill of £33,011. This includes, incidentally, £9.22 interest for late payment.
“The sticking point seems to be that the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency has determined that ‘his condition was not sustained by service of a war-like nature’.”
Mr Hanson added: “It is beyond dispute that Mr Thomas died of a condition contracted while serving his country at the time of the Gulf War. I would ask the minister to look at this legislation once again, so that other families do not fall foul of this legislation.
“We should be doing everything we can to support families who have lost a loved one as a result of their active service, protecting our shores.”
Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan said he would look again at both the case of Sgt Thomas and the relevant law, and pledged to ‘go the extra mile’ for the family.
He accepted Sgt Thomas was operating in a role in support of Gulf War operations, but said: “From his service record, however, it is evident that during that time he did not undertake deployed service in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Iraq, or come into direct contact with Iraqi forces.
“As such, my officials were unable to recommend that his estate be considered for exemption from inheritance tax, as the criteria defined under section 154 of the Act had not been met.”
may I take this opportunity to pass on my condolences to Nigel's parents.
Bloody tax office. Money grabbers with no damn soul!. Inheritance tax is an insult to anyone not just Nigel's parents. You work your backside off during your life time whilst other "parasites" spend their entire working lives living off of handouts...then you get a final bill for your efforts......it's a disgrace to hard working people!
