§ Lord Eamesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the Patten report on policing in Northern Ireland, they will review the scales of compensation and support paid to widows and families of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers killed on active service. [HL1162]
§ Baroness Farrington of RibbletonPursuant to the answer given by my noble friend Lord Dubs on 9 November 1999 (Official Report, columns 141–42), the Government are currently considering their response to the report of the review of criminal injuries compensation in Northern Ireland which includes recommendations on the scales of compensation.
The Patten report recommends that a substantial fund be set up to support widows, injured police officers, injured retired officers and their families and that the Widows Association be supplied with an office and a regular source of finance to run their organisation. The Government fully accept these recommendations and are currently working on their implementation.