asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average payment made to the families of Service men killed by terrorist action in Northern Ireland since January 1972.

Since January 1972 the average payment made to the families of Service men killed by terrorist action in Northern Ireland under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 has been £1,333 to the dependants of unmarried Service men and £8,429 to the widows of married Service men.Awards under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 are subject to abatement in respect of any right to pension, gratuity or statutory benefit payable to or for the benefit of the victim or any of his dependants as a result of the death or injury. The widows of Service men killed in Northern Ireland qualify for war pensions payable by the Department of Health and Social Security as well as pensions paid under the Forces Pension Scheme, both of which are increased in respect of dependent children, and therefore any awards made to them under the Act are likely to be less than those received by civilian widows.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual pension that is paid to the wife of a British soldier killed whilst serving in Ulster; and if he will list the pensions based upon the rank of the deceased.

The current annual rates of pension, payable under the Forces attributable family pension scheme to the widow of a soldier killed while serving in Northern Ireland, where the death is due to service, are as follows:

	£
Private, L/Corporal	813
Corporal	1,009
Sergeant	1,137
Staff Sergeant	1,270
Warrant Officer Class II	1,317
Warrant Officer Class I	1,445

In addition, the widow receives a war widow's pension from the Department of Health and Social Security.

asked the Secretary of of State for Defence what lump sum compensation is paid to the wife of a British soldier killed on duty in Ulster.

The widow of a soldier killed on duty in Northern Ireland receives the following minimum gratuity and additional attributable lump sum:

	Gratuity	Additional Lump Sum	Total
	£	£	£
Private, Lance-Corporal	2,078	520	2,598
Corporal	2,514	629	3,143
Sergeant	2,800	700	3,500
Staff Sergeant	3,094	774	3,868
Warrant Officer Cass II	3,200	800	4,000
Warrant Officer Class I	3,484	871	4,355

The rates of gratuity are minimum rates. Where the husband would have received a larger sum by way of terminal grant had he been invalided from the Service on the day he died, the widow receives a gratuity equal to that terminal grant.In addition, the widows of men killed as the result of terrorist activity may claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.