§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the cost of upgrading the totality of pensions paid to widows drawing such pensions as a result of the death or injury of their husbands on active service in the Second World War to the level and conditions applying to pensions which will become payable to the widows of Service men killed on active service in Northern Ireland or the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WigginIt is not possible to identify precisely the number of widows who are receiving pensions arising from the death or injury of their husbands in the Second World War. However, on a broad estimate it is expected that the additional cost of paying these pensions at the rate of those currently awarded would be of the order of £135 million a year. If associated lump sum payments were additionally paid at current rates this would add a further once for all cost of around £405 million.