§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance the widow of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty will receive. [86654]
§ Jane KennedyThe financial assistance awarded to the widows of police officers killed in the line of duty is governed by the RUC Pensions Regulations 1973 and 1988 and the RUC Injury Benefit Regulations 1988 which provide for the payment of a gratuity and a pension.
Prior to 25 November 1982 the gratuity was two × average pensionable pay (APP). The APP was averaged over three years. From 25 November 1982 the gratuity was five × annual rate of pay or four × total remuneration, whichever is the lower, plus two × maximum pay of a constable in the London Metropolitan less 1¼ APP.
The widow's pension awarded is the rate of pay plus rent allowance less child allowance for the first 13 weeks. Thereafter, the pension is 50 per cent. of APP. Child allowance is 10 per cent. of APP per child up to a maximum of 40 per cent.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC widows have been widowed as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland since 1973; and how much money has been distributed to RUC widows since 1973. [86652]
§ Jane KennedyPolice Service of Northern Ireland records indicate that 224 awards have been paid as a result of officers being killed in the line of duty as a direct result of terrorist activity. The total amount of money distributed in respect of these 224 awards could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
The above awards would not take into account the £4.2 million paid by Government to those RUC widows whose husbands were killed by terrorists prior to 25 November 1982, or any subsequent payments made to RUC widows by the Police Fund.