§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will list the circumstances in which compensation has been paid from public funds to civilians or to the dependants of civilians who have been killed or injured or who have suffered illness as a result of activities of terrorists or of the security forces in Ulster during the present emergency and the amount of compensation paid in each case.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesCompensation is payable under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 to those who have suffered criminal injuries and the dependants of those who have died as a result of criminal injuries. In the case of persons injured or the dependants of persons killed by the security forces compensation claims are considered by the Ministry of Defence or the Police Authority on their merits and it is always open to such persons to pursue civil actions for damages through the Northern Ireland courts. It is not possible without disproportionate effort to provide the information asked for about286W the circumstances of individual cases and the amounts paid.