HC Deb 20 December 1974 vol 883 cc620-2W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, having regard to the size of the payments made to relatives of civilians killed as a result of the disturbances in Londonderry on so-called Bloody Sunday, he is satisfied that there is adequate financial provision for the relatives of members of the security forces killed by terrorists in Northern Ireland.

Mr. William Rodgers

The widows of members of the Regular Forces killed in Northern Ireland on or after 31st March 1973 as a result of terrorist activities are eligible for awards under the new Forces Attributable Family Pensions Scheme in addition to the war pensions provisions made by the Department of Health and Social Security. Examples are that a widow of a private soldier with four children would get a total pension from MOD and the DHSS of £3,305 a year, and a widow of a major with two children would get a total pension of £5,025 a year. In addition, there would be lump sum payments of at least £2,598 for the private soldier's widow and £5,678 for the major's widow.

The widows and dependants of Service men killed as the result of terrorist activity are also eligible to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 but such awards have to take account of payment of pensions from public funds.

With regard to the dependants of the 13 people who were killed in London-

Local education authority Number of maintained schools* Number of pupils in maintained schools* Total of capital school building starts authorised for the period 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975‡
£'000
Barking 73 29,604 100
Barnet 120 47,054 1,465
Bexley 92 39,229 879
Brent 97 44,596 1,212
Bromley 123 48,736 1,205
Croydon 133 58,134 1,527
Ealing 111 47,754 1,238
Enfold 106 44,928 922
Haringey 97 40,295 1,164
Harrow 74 31,951 470
Havering 108 47,621 250
Hillingdon 101 40,875 895
Hounslow 84 35,047 640

derry on 30th January 1972, these amounts have been calculated on the common law basis for the assessment of dependency in the event of death.

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