§ Mr. McMahonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to establish a special pension for those people, male or female, who have lost a member of their family as a result of bombing in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John PattenI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply.
There are no plans to introduce legislation to provide for a special pension in the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member.
The dependants of persons killed in Northern Ireland as a result of bombing are, where appropriate, entitled to the normal benefits available under social security legislation, including, for example, widow's benefits and industrial death benefit.
Compensation may be payable to such dependants under the Northern Ireland criminal injuries compensation scheme. In the case of the dependants of Service men, benefits may also be payable under the war pensions scheme. Some occupational pension schemes also provide death-in-service benefits.
Country Active Forces (Regular and Conscripts) Percentage of population Reserves Percentage of population France 504,600 0.9 450,000 0.8 FRG 495,000 0.8 755,000 1.2 Sweden 64,300 0.75 730,000 8.75 Switzerland 20,500 0.3 604,500 9.5 United Kingdom 333,800 0.6 277,100 0.5 USA 2,062,000 0.9 1,280,000 0.6 The figures for reserves are not comparable, as those given for some of the countries refer to the total number of people with a reserve liability, not all of whom would be mobilised.