What a farce!

First they are not allowed to under MOD guidelines, then they are allowed to and now they are not!

Defence Secretary Des Browne said the Navy had faced a "very tough call" over its decision to allow the sailors among the 15 hostages to take payments in return for their accounts - the first of which were published today.
But he said everyone concerned recognised it had "not reached a satisfactory outcome" and lessons must be learned from a review of procedures ordered by the Ministry of Defence.
"I want to be sure those charged with these difficult decisions have clear guidance for the future," he said in his first comment on the controversy.

Clear guidance ....... NuLAbour........ Yet another example of Government by spin and focus groups.

You just couldn't make this lot up.